EP0600791B1 - Pyrotechnic electric igniter - Google Patents

Pyrotechnic electric igniter Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0600791B1
EP0600791B1 EP93402906A EP93402906A EP0600791B1 EP 0600791 B1 EP0600791 B1 EP 0600791B1 EP 93402906 A EP93402906 A EP 93402906A EP 93402906 A EP93402906 A EP 93402906A EP 0600791 B1 EP0600791 B1 EP 0600791B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plug
housing
case
pyrotechnic
substance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP93402906A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0600791A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Claude Bernardy
Yves Moya-Naranjo
Guy Lagofun
Hervé Lebreton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Giat Industries SA
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Giat Industries SA
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Publication of EP0600791A1 publication Critical patent/EP0600791A1/en
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Publication of EP0600791B1 publication Critical patent/EP0600791B1/en
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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
    • F42B3/10—Initiators therefor
    • F42B3/11—Initiators therefor characterised by the material used, e.g. for initiator case or electric leads
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
    • F42B3/10—Initiators therefor
    • F42B3/103—Mounting initiator heads in initiators; Sealing-plugs
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42B—EXPLOSIVE CHARGES, e.g. FOR BLASTING, FIREWORKS, AMMUNITION
    • F42B3/00—Blasting cartridges, i.e. case and explosive
    • F42B3/10—Initiators therefor
    • F42B3/12—Bridge initiators
    • F42B3/125—Bridge initiators characterised by the configuration of the bridge initiator case
    • F42B3/127—Bridge initiators characterised by the configuration of the bridge initiator case the case having burst direction defining elements

Definitions

  • the field of the present invention is that of pyrotechnic initiators, that is to say components making it possible to transmit a pyrotechnic effect to a pyrotechnic chain.
  • Initiators are already known which are used in the munitions field. They generally comprise a metal cell inside which is placed by compression a pyrotechnic substance.
  • the cell is made of relatively thin metal, it must be closed with a metal flake intended to rupture under the pressure generated by the pyrotechnic substance.
  • the paillet is itself covered with varnish to ensure sealing against ambient humidity.
  • the electrodes are carried by an insulating base, most often made of sintered glass or ceramic.
  • This base is a piece whose manufacture is delicate and quite expensive.
  • the cell itself must be placed inside a support box which will carry the electrical connectors and allow the mounting of the initiator in the pyrotechnic chain.
  • Such a type of initiator does not make it possible to control the size of the housing fragments obtained, which is penalizing for use in other technical fields than that of quarries, for example in the field of armaments or in that of systems. of security.
  • Patent US4576094 which forms a basis for the preamble of claims 1 and 2, describes a plastic initiator for a missile propellant and which has a thin cylindrical wall fragmented during initiation. The aim is to avoid blocking the missile nozzle with the initiator's operating residues. This initiator has drawbacks, however.
  • the fineness of the envelope also does not ensure sufficient confinement of the pyrotechnic composition.
  • the invention thus aims to propose an initiator which is both extremely reliable, robust and inexpensive, while ensuring an initiation which generates a minimum number of debris so as not to disturb the system initiated.
  • the initiator according to the invention is made of plastic, the advantage of such an arrangement is that it allows the whole of the initiator to be produced in an extremely simple and inexpensive manner.
  • this box must be rigid enough to be able to hold the pyrotechnic substance which must also be able to be compressed directly inside the box.
  • the production cost of such an initiator can thus be substantially of the order of 1% of that of an initiator according to the state of the art without loss of performance.
  • the invention it is thus possible to produce, by one or two molding operations, the entire structure of the housing, a structure which will provide the function of mechanical maintenance of the pyrotechnic substance, mechanical maintenance and electrical insulation of the electrodes and that of the housing of the pyrotechnic substance with respect to humidity.
  • the subject of the invention is a pyrotechnic initiator comprising a pyrotechnic substance placed inside a housing arranged in a housing made of a plastic material and closed by a plug also made of plastic material, the housing comprising a cylindrical wall
  • this initiator is characterized in that the wall has at least one window of reduced thickness, forming a single piece with the wall, and intended to break during the initiation of the substance, the stopper comprising a shoulder and an annular groove in which a thinned cylindrical end of the casing is adjusted, a clearance remaining between the shoulder of the plug and the casing so as to allow the plug to remain supported on the pyrotechnic substance during the fixing of the plug.
  • the material of the housing ensures rigidity and confinement, the presence of zones of reduced thicknesses arranged on the housing itself or else on its cap allows pyrotechnic transmission with a minimum of fragments.
  • the support of the stopper on the substance makes it possible to ensure a slight compression of the substance during the fixing of the stopper which increases the safety and the reliability of the initiator by preventing any empty space of substance inside the case.
  • the initiator comprises a means for initiating the substance disposed at the bottom of the housing, such an arrangement also makes it possible to ensure good contact between the substance and the initiation means.
  • the invention also relates to a pyrotechnic initiator comprising a pyrotechnic substance disposed inside a housing arranged in a housing made of a plastic material, and closed by a plug also made of plastic material, the housing comprising a cylindrical wall.
  • this initiator is characterized in that the plug has a zone of reduced thickness intended to break during the initiation of the substance, and comprises a shoulder and an annular groove in which is fitted a thinned cylindrical end of the housing, a play remaining between the shoulder of the plug and the casing so as to allow the plug to remain supported on the pyrotechnic substance during the fixing of the plug.
  • the reduced thickness zone is then fitted on the plug and not on the housing, such a variant makes it possible to ensure initiation in an axial direction of the housing.
  • the initiator according to this variant may also include windows of reduced thickness forming a single piece with the wall.
  • the initiation means may consist of a resistive wire, a semiconductor wafer or the end of an optical fiber.
  • the windows are arranged outside the wall, the housing then having a smooth cylindrical internal surface.
  • Such an arrangement facilitates the introduction by compression of the pyrotechnic substance in the housing.
  • the stopper has an area of reduced thickness intended to rupture during the initiation of the substance.
  • the housing is formed of a base and a skirt made integral with each other by a connecting means, the skirt carrying the wall on which the windows are made.
  • Such an embodiment makes it possible to facilitate the manufacture of the housing and in particular the fixing of the initiation means to the bottom of the housing (for example the welding of a resistive wire or of a semiconductor wafer on the electrodes).
  • the skirt has a length of between 1.5 and 2.5 times the diameter of the housing.
  • the housing may be covered with a metallization.
  • the housing may also be covered with a metal cap which covers both the plug and the cylindrical wall.
  • the initiator comprises two electrodes embedded in the material of the housing and the ends of which protrude slightly at the level of a base of the housing, the overmolding length of each electrode being between 5 and 10 times its diameter .
  • the plug will preferably be fixed to the housing by ultrasonic welding.
  • skirt and the base of the housing will be made integral with one another by ultrasonic welding.
  • the plastic material of the housing and / or the plug will preferably be of the polyamide or polycarbonate type.
  • the pyrotechnic substance is deposited in the housing by a wet loading process.
  • This loading mode ensures manufacturing safety and allows the housing of the housing to be optimally filled.
  • an initiator 1 comprises a pyrotechnic substance 2 of known type (for example an explosive (detonator) or an inflammatory pyrotechnic composition), substance disposed in a housing, 3, substantially cylindrical, which is arranged in a housing 4.
  • a pyrotechnic substance 2 of known type (for example an explosive (detonator) or an inflammatory pyrotechnic composition)
  • substance disposed in a housing, 3, substantially cylindrical, which is arranged in a housing 4.
  • Two metallic electrodes 5a, 5b pass through the housing 4, the ends 6a, 6b of which protrude slightly (by a few tenths of a mm) at the bottom 7 of the housing 3.
  • a means for initiating the pyrotechnic substance is fixed between the electrodes.
  • This means is here a resistive wire 8 which connects the electrodes 5a and 5b and which is fixed by welding on each of the ends 6a and 6b.
  • the electrical characteristics of the wire 8 are determined in a conventional manner by a person skilled in the art as a function of the pyrotechnic characteristics of the substance 2.
  • the housing 4 is made of plastic material of the Polyamide or polycarbonate type, a material possibly loaded with glass fibers to increase its mechanical strength.
  • the housing 4 is molded or injected on the electrodes 5a and 5b.
  • the latter may have roughness on their external surface to improve the attachment of the material of the housing and increase the mechanical strength of the initiator.
  • a housing 4 In order to ensure sufficient rigidity of the mounting of the electrodes in the housing (and therefore of the resistance of the resistive filament), a housing 4 will be defined such that the length of overmolding of the electrodes is sufficient, ie from 5 to 10 times the diameter of the 'electrode.
  • FIG. 4 shows a variant in which the electrodes have grooves 9 inside which the material of the housing penetrates during manufacture.
  • the housing 4 includes a bulge 17 which gives a bearing surface allowing for example its installation in a housing arranged in a pyrotechnic substance or in an initiation device not shown (housing to the diameter of the housing).
  • the cylindrical wall 10 of the housing 3 has three zones 11 whose thickness is reduced.
  • the thickness reduction is made inside the housing 3, so this thickness reduction is not visible from the outside of the initiator, the outside of the wall 10 therefore has a smooth cylindrical surface.
  • the zones 11 of reduced thickness are easily obtained during the manufacture of the housing by molding in a suitable tool. It suffices to provide a mold of which a movable part is of the desired diameter for the housing 3 and comprises three sliding fingers which will give the shape of the zones of reduced thickness 11.
  • These three zones 11 constitute fragile windows which will be broken by the pressure generated by the pyrotechnic substance during its initiation.
  • the thickness of these windows will be of the order of 0.5 to 1 mm. They therefore play the role of the initiator's closing straw according to the state of technique, but do not require an additional mounting step since they are obtained with the housing and constitute a single piece with the latter.
  • the windows 11 thus allow transmission to a pyrotechnic chain in a radial direction of the initiator.
  • the pyrotechnic substance 2 is placed by compression inside the housing 3. During this manufacturing step, it penetrates inside the zones of reduced thickness 11.
  • the mechanical strength of the windows is not affected by the compression operation despite their small thickness.
  • the external cylindrical surface of the wall 10 will be maintained during this operation in a tool of complementary shape, this tool will ensure the maintenance of the windows and will allow the compression of the pyrotechnic substance without deformation of the windows.
  • the housing 3 is closed by a plug 12.
  • the latter has a cylindrical portion 12a of reduced diameter which is adjusted in the housing 3 and a shoulder 12b.
  • the plug is made of the same material as the housing 4. It is fixed to the housing by ultrasonic welding.
  • the initiator constitutes a completely sealed assembly.
  • FIG. 3 shows the lower part of the housing in the direction X of FIG. 1 and specifies the shape of the fingers 13.
  • the initiator according to the invention can be manufactured easily and at low cost, the manufacture requiring only a few operations and each operation being simple and easily automated.
  • the filament is welded to the electrodes by means of welding techniques adapted to the wiring of integrated circuits, an inexpensive technique and allowing high production rates.
  • the substance is placed by compression directly in the housing of the housing and on the filament.
  • the plug is welded to the housing and ensures a perfect seal while increasing the mechanical rigidity of the assembly.
  • Figure 5 shows the detail of the fixing of the plug on the housing in the case of the latter embodiment.
  • the housing 4 then has at its housing 3 an annular groove 15 into which penetrates a bead 16 arranged on the cylindrical part 12a of the plug.
  • the positioning is carried out by elastic deformation.
  • the seal is completed by a deposit of varnish on the external surface of the wall 10 at the level of the separation between plug and case.
  • connection can also be completed by depositing adhesive between the shoulder 12b of the plug and the housing.
  • the zone 18 is obtained directly during the molding of the plug 12. It results from the arrangement of a cavity 19 which here has a conical profile but which could be cylindrical.
  • the cavity 19 is arranged outside the plug 12 so the zone of reduced thickness 18 comes into contact with the pyrotechnic substance 2 and performs a setting of the latter.
  • the pressure generated by the pyrotechnic substance 2 will break the zone of reduced thickness 18.
  • This last type of initiator will allow the transmission of a pyrotechnic effect to a pyrotechnic chain in an axial direction of the housing.
  • Electrodes 5a and 5b We could for example connect by welding the electrodes 5a and 5b to a semiconductor wafer, printed circuit or integrated circuit, which can itself be glued to the bottom 7 of the housing 3.
  • the plate then constitutes the means of initiation of the pyrotechnic substance.
  • the electrodes will be replaced during overmolding of the housing by a support for an optical fiber.
  • the end of the optical fiber then constitutes the means for initiating the pyrotechnic substance.
  • the substance will be a substance sensitive to photons (light intensity or shock wave).
  • photons light intensity or shock wave.
  • Such substances are known to those skilled in the art, reference may for example be made to patents FR9002566 and FR9014662 which describe such substances.
  • the box will have a first zone of reduced thickness intended to allow its passage through a striker and at least one other zone of reduced thickness, arranged on the wall of the box or on the plug, and intended to transmit the pyrotechnic effect to a pyrotechnic chain.
  • Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of an initiator according to the invention.
  • the housing 4 here consists of a base 4a and a skirt 4b.
  • Base and skirt are both made of plastic material such as Polycarbonate loaded with glass fibers to increase mechanical strength. For example, a load of 10% to 40% by mass of short glass fibers (a few tenths of a millimeter long) will be adopted.
  • the base 4a has elastic fingers 13 at its lower part allowing it to be fixed, fingers identical to those described above and which will therefore not be described here in more detail.
  • the base 4a has a cylindrical central stud 20 on which the skirt 4b is adjusted.
  • the skirt is fixed to the base by ultrasonic welding, but another method of fixing could be adopted, for example gluing.
  • the ultrasonic welding is carried out in a known manner by applying a sonotrode of a welding device to the external conical surface 31 (in the directions marked S ').
  • the vibrations of the sonotrode cause the contacting surfaces to be welded, ie the external cylindrical surface of the stud and that of the skirt as well as the flat bearing surfaces 26 and 27.
  • the metal electrodes 5a and 5b pass through the base 4a and their ends 6a, 6b slightly protrude at the level of the upper face 21 of the central stud 20.
  • a resistive wire 8 is fixed by welding on each of the ends 6a and 6b.
  • the central stud 20 has two flats 22 which have the function of allowing the positioning of a tool (not shown) ensuring the welding of the resistive wire on the ends of the electrodes.
  • the base 4a is overmolded on the electrodes 5a and 5b, the overmoulding length of each electrode is between 5 and 10 times its diameter to ensure sufficient rigidity for mounting the electrodes.
  • the skirt 4b has two zones of reduced thickness forming windows 11. The thickness reduction is made outside the skirt 4b, thus the housing 3 has a smooth cylindrical internal surface.
  • the advantage of such an arrangement is that it facilitates the filling of the housing 3 with the pyrotechnic substance 2.
  • the housing 3 is completely filled, which increases the reliability of the initiator. Indeed, the presence of a space devoid of pyrotechnic substance would cause the risk of the appearance of internal friction and above all would risk causing an initiation fault if the resistive wire was not intimately in contact with the pyrotechnic substance.
  • the pyrotechnic substance 2 is placed by compression.
  • the mechanical strength of the windows 11 is ensured by a judicious choice of the compression force relative to the mechanical strength of the windows.
  • Sharing the housing 4 in two parts, a base 4a and a skirt 4b makes it easier to mount the filament 8 (or another initiation means such as a semiconductor wafer or an optical fiber).
  • the welding of the filament 8 is carried out on the base 4a equipped with the electrodes. Welding is easy to perform because the welding tool does not have to enter a cylindrical housing to reach the ends 6a and 6b.
  • the flats guide the tools, which increases the precision and speed of this operation.
  • the skirt 4b is fixed to the base 4a. This fixing will preferably be done on the same transfer machine, just after the filament welding station. This is to avoid any deterioration of the filament following manipulations of the base 4a.
  • the pyrotechnic substance is then deposited according to the known method of wet loading.
  • This substance will be mixed with 1 to 5% by mass of a binder such as natural gum or a synthetic binder and with water (5 to 30% by mass).
  • a binder such as natural gum or a synthetic binder
  • the substance is thus shaped into pellets of the diameter of the housing 3 of the housing with appropriate tools.
  • a punch ensures moderate compression (20 to 40 megapascals) of this pellet which allows the pyrotechnic substance to completely fill the housing 3 and to be in intimate contact with the filament 8.
  • Compression also drives water away from the top of the substance.
  • the charged initiators then pass through a hot tunnel (50 to 80 ° C) which causes the water to evaporate.
  • the drying of the substance has the effect of restoring its sensitivity.
  • a closure plug 12 made of a material identical to that of the housing is positioned so as to close the housing 3.
  • the plug 12 has a front face 23 which bears on the pyrotechnic substance 2.
  • the cylindrical part 12a of the plug is adjusted in the housing 3 which increases the rigidity of the housing 4 at the level of the wall 10 of the skirt 4b.
  • the plug 12 has an annular groove 24 which receives a tapered cylindrical end 25 of the skirt 4b.
  • Such an arrangement is intended to allow the fixing of the plug on the skirt (for example by ultrasonic welding) while keeping the plug in abutment on the pyrotechnic substance.
  • the ultrasonic welding is carried out in a known manner by applying a sonotrode of a welding device on a circular crown of the outer flat face of the plug, crown located substantially in line with the thinned end 25 of the skirt 4b (S marks).
  • the vibrations of the sonotrode cause the welding of the contacting surfaces, that is to say the cylindrical surfaces of the end 25 and of the groove 24.
  • the plug is welded after evaporation of the water as described above.
  • the plug 12 finally comprises a cavity 19 disposed outside the plug and which provides an area of reduced thickness 18 on the plug. This zone allows the transmission of a pyrotechnic effect in an axial direction of the initiator. It also makes it possible to ensure a rupture of the plug at a predetermined location in addition to the windows 11.
  • the external surface of the initiator is completely covered (with the exception of the surface which separates the electrodes) with a deposit, of a conductive material, for example stainless steel.
  • This deposit is implemented by the known technology of vacuum metallization by evaporation.
  • the deposition could also be carried out by spraying, sputtering or by electrodeposition.
  • Other conductive materials, in particular metallic, could be adopted, for example aluminum, chromium or nickel deposits.
  • This coating forms a Faraday cage which protects the initiator from the currents induced by the electromagnetic environment.
  • the housing 4 Due to the separation of the housing 4 into two parts, a base 4a and a skirt 4b, it is very easy to weld the resistive filament on the electrodes, and it becomes possible to put in place a skirt of considerable length without harming ease of manufacture.
  • the cylindrical part 12a thereof has a length greater than or equal to 0.5 times its diameter.
  • FIG. 7a thus shows an initiator (whose skirt is identical to that of the initiator in FIG. 7) and containing twice as much pyrotechnic substance 2. This initiator is then closed by a plug whose cylindrical part 12a is twice shorter.
  • the skirt 4b will be given a total length L of between 1.5 and 2.6 times the diameter of the housing 3 (and preferably equal to 2 times the diameter).
  • FIG 9 shows a last embodiment of the invention in which the housing 4 is similar to that shown in Figures 7 and 8 and has a base 4a and a skirt 4b. This box will therefore not be described in more detail.
  • This cap is made of brass a few tenths of a millimeter thick, which is covered with chrome to prevent corrosion. It completely surrounds the plug 12 and the skirt 4b, and comes to bear at its end on an abutment surface 29 of the base 4a.
  • the cap 28 is pierced with circular openings 30 arranged opposite the windows 11. It is force-fitted on the housing (tight fit on the external cylindrical surface of the housing obtained for example by giving a slightly conical profile inside the cap ).
  • the function of the cap is to complete the Faraday cage surrounding the pyrotechnic initiator. There is thus an electrical contact with the metallization which covers the housing 4.
  • the cap 28 holds the different pieces of the housing and prevents their dispersion in the pyrotechnic system initiated. This increases the reliability of the initiator by ensuring in all cases that a fragment of the housing will not disturb the operation of the system initiated.
  • Such an arrangement is particularly useful for high security applications, for example the initiation of automobile safety airbags. It is thus certain that fragments of the housing will not block the inflation orifices of the cushion, seriously impairing its effectiveness.
  • the initiator does not have a window on the housing but an area of reduced thickness on the plug (in order to ensure ignition in an axial direction of the housing), only one cap will be provided opening arranged opposite the zone of reduced thickness of the plug.

Abstract

The field of the present invention is that of pyrotechnic igniters. The pyrotechnic igniter (1) according to the invention comprises a pyrotechnic substance (2) located inside a housing (3) made in a plastic casing (4), the housing including a cylindrical wall (10). It is characterised in that the wall has at least one window (11) of reduced thickness, forming a single piece with the wall and intended to rupture when the substance (2) is ignited. Application to the transmission of a pyrotechnic effect to a pyrotechnic system. <IMAGE>

Description

Le domaine de la présente invention est celui des initiateurs pyrotechniques, c'est à dire des composants permettant de transmettre un effet pyrotechnique à une chaîne pyrotechnique.The field of the present invention is that of pyrotechnic initiators, that is to say components making it possible to transmit a pyrotechnic effect to a pyrotechnic chain.

On connaît déjà des initiateurs qui sont utilisés dans le domaine munitionnaire. Ils comportent d'une manière générale une alvéole métallique à l'intérieur de laquelle est mise en place par compression une substance pyrotechnique.Initiators are already known which are used in the munitions field. They generally comprise a metal cell inside which is placed by compression a pyrotechnic substance.

Les brevets FR2506927, FR2513751 et FR2538099 décrivent de tels initiateurs.The patents FR2506927, FR2513751 and FR2538099 describe such initiators.

Ces dispositifs sont extrêmement fiables, leur principal inconvénient est leur coût de production.These devices are extremely reliable, their main drawback is their production cost.

L'alvéole est réalisée en métal relativement mince, elle doit être refermée par un paillet métallique destiné à se rompre sous la pression générée par la substance pyrotechnique. Le paillet est lui même recouvert de vernis afin d'assurer l'étanchéité vis à vis de l'humidité ambiante.The cell is made of relatively thin metal, it must be closed with a metal flake intended to rupture under the pressure generated by the pyrotechnic substance. The paillet is itself covered with varnish to ensure sealing against ambient humidity.

La production d'une telle alvéole est coûteuse car elle nécessite un certain nombre d'opérations délicates.The production of such a cell is expensive because it requires a certain number of delicate operations.

Dans le cas d'une initiation par courant électrique, les électrodes sont portées par une embase isolante, le plus souvent en verre fritté ou céramique. Cette embase est une pièce dont la fabrication est délicate et assez coûteuse.In the case of initiation by electric current, the electrodes are carried by an insulating base, most often made of sintered glass or ceramic. This base is a piece whose manufacture is delicate and quite expensive.

De plus, l'alvéole elle-même doit être mise en place à l'intérieur d'un boîtier support qui portera les connecteurs électriques et permettra le montage de l'initiateur dans la chaîne pyrotechnique.In addition, the cell itself must be placed inside a support box which will carry the electrical connectors and allow the mounting of the initiator in the pyrotechnic chain.

Il résulte de tout cela que les initiateurs selon l'état de la technique sont peu adaptés à une production de grande série à coûts extrêmement réduits comme le nécessite l'industrie.It follows from all of this that the initiators according to the state of the art are ill-suited to mass production at extremely reduced costs as required by industry.

On connaît par les brevets US2968985, US2767655 et US4819560 des initiateurs dont le boîtier est réalisé en matière plastique. Ces initiateurs bon marché sont plus particulièrement destinés à initier des cartouches explosives utilisées dans l'industrie des mines ou des carrières. Ils comportent généralement un boîtier d'épaisseur constante qui renferme la charge d'initiation et qui se trouve fragmenté lors de l'initiation de cette dernière.We know from patents US2968985, US2767655 and US4819560 initiators whose housing is made of plastic. These inexpensive initiators are more particularly intended for initiating explosive cartridges used in the mining or quarrying industry. They generally include a case of constant thickness which contains the initiation charge and which is fragmented during the initiation of the latter.

Un tel type d'initiateur ne permet pas de maîtriser la taille des fragments de boîtier obtenus ce qui est pénalisant pour une utilisation dans d'autres domaines techniques que celui des carrières, par exemple dans le domaine de l'armement ou dans celui des systèmes de sécurité.Such a type of initiator does not make it possible to control the size of the housing fragments obtained, which is penalizing for use in other technical fields than that of quarries, for example in the field of armaments or in that of systems. of security.

Le brevet US4576094 qui forme une base pour le préambule des revendications 1 et 2, décrit un initiateur en matière plastique pour un propulseur de missile et qui comporte une paroi cylindrique mince fragmentée lors de l'initiation. Le but recherché est d'éviter d'obturer la tuyère du missile avec les résidus de fonctionnement de l'initiateur. Cet initiateur présente cependant des inconvénients.Patent US4576094 which forms a basis for the preamble of claims 1 and 2, describes a plastic initiator for a missile propellant and which has a thin cylindrical wall fragmented during initiation. The aim is to avoid blocking the missile nozzle with the initiator's operating residues. This initiator has drawbacks, however.

Tout d'abord il est coûteux à fabriquer car il impose la réalisation de pièces cylindriques d'épaisseurs extrêmement réduites et leur assemblage ultérieur après remplissage par une composition pyrotechnique sensible.First of all, it is expensive to manufacture because it requires the production of cylindrical parts of extremely reduced thicknesses and their subsequent assembly after filling with a sensitive pyrotechnic composition.

Ensuite, la finesse de son enveloppe le rend très fragile ce qui pénalise son emploi dans des domaines où les contraintes mécaniques (chocs, vibrations) dont importantes (munitions, sécurité automobile).Then, the fineness of its envelope makes it very fragile which penalizes its use in areas where the mechanical stresses (shocks, vibrations) including significant (ammunition, automobile safety).

La finesse de l'enveloppe ne permet pas par ailleurs d'assurer un confinement suffisant de la composition pyrotechnique.The fineness of the envelope also does not ensure sufficient confinement of the pyrotechnic composition.

Enfin, son enveloppe mince est surmontée d'un couvercle massif qui risque de venir obturer ou perturber les systèmes pyrotechniques qu'il doit initier.Finally, its thin envelope is surmounted by a massive cover which risks blocking or disturbing the pyrotechnic systems which it must initiate.

C'est le but de l'invention de proposer un initiateur qui ne présente pas de tels inconvénients.It is the object of the invention to propose an initiator which does not have such drawbacks.

L'invention vise ainsi à proposer un initiateur qui soit à la fois extrêmement fiable, robuste et peu coûteux, tout en assurant une initiation qui génère un nombre minimal de débris afin de ne pas perturber le système initié.The invention thus aims to propose an initiator which is both extremely reliable, robust and inexpensive, while ensuring an initiation which generates a minimum number of debris so as not to disturb the system initiated.

C'est également un but de l'invention que de proposer un initiateur pouvant être fabriqué en grande série à moindre coût et de façon sûre, ce qui autorise son utilisation par exemple pour l'initiation des dispositifs de sécurité utilisés sur les véhicules, en particulier automobiles.It is also an object of the invention to propose an initiator which can be mass produced at low cost and in a safe manner, which authorizes its use for example for the initiation of the safety devices used on vehicles, in especially automobiles.

L'initiateur selon l'invention est réalisé en matière plastique, l'avantage d'une telle disposition est qu'elle permet de réaliser de façon extrêmement simple et bon marché l'ensemble de l'initiateur.The initiator according to the invention is made of plastic, the advantage of such an arrangement is that it allows the whole of the initiator to be produced in an extremely simple and inexpensive manner.

Il apparait pourtant délicat d'assurer avec un tel matériau l'ensemble des fonctions que doit remplir un boîtier d'initiateur.However, it appears delicate to ensure with such a material all of the functions which an initiator housing must fulfill.

Notamment, ce boîtier doit étre assez rigide pour pouvoir maintenir la substance pyrotechnique qui doit également pouvoir être comprimée directement à l'intérieur du boîtier.In particular, this box must be rigid enough to be able to hold the pyrotechnic substance which must also be able to be compressed directly inside the box.

Il doit cependant être assez fragile pour permettre la transmission pyrotechnique suivant une ou plusieurs directions (rôle du paillet métallique) et assurer néanmoins l'étanchéité.However, it must be fragile enough to allow pyrotechnic transmission in one or more directions (role of the metal flake) and nevertheless ensure sealing.

Il doit enfin éventuellement porter des électrodes d'une façon suffisamment rigide pour éviter la rupture des moyens d'initiation (fil résistif ou plaquette semi conducteur) tout en assurant l'étanchéité au niveau du passage des électrodes et l'isolation électrique entre elles.Finally, it must eventually wear electrodes in a sufficiently rigid manner to avoid breaking the initiation means (resistive wire or semiconductor wafer) while ensuring sealing at the level of the passage of the electrodes and the electrical insulation therebetween.

L'ensemble de ces fonctions, extrêment importantes et parfois contradictoires (rigidité/fragilité), était jusqu'à présent rempli par un assemblage de différents éléments à hautes caractéristiques mécaniques (alvéole métallique rigide embase isolante portant les électrodes, paillet métallique fin, vernis d'étanchéité).All of these functions, extremely important and sometimes contradictory (rigidity / fragility), have hitherto been fulfilled by an assembly of different elements with high mechanical characteristics (rigid metal cell, insulating base carrying the electrodes, fine metal flake, varnish sealing).

Il apparait surprenant que le recours à un seul type de matériau puisse remplir de façon correcte l'ensemble de ces fonctions et permette ainsi une économie considérable du point de vue des coûts de production sans perte de performances.It seems surprising that the use of a single type of material can correctly fulfill all of these functions and thus allow a considerable saving from the point of view of production costs without loss of performance.

Le coût de production d'un tel initiateur peut ainsi être sensiblement de l'ordre de 1% de celui d'un initiateur selon l'état de la technique sans perte de performances.The production cost of such an initiator can thus be substantially of the order of 1% of that of an initiator according to the state of the art without loss of performance.

Grâce à l'invention, il est possible ainsi de réaliser par une ou deux opérations de moulage l'ensemble de la structure du boîtier, structure qui assurera la fonction de maintien mécanique de la substance pyrotechnique, de maintien mécanique et isolation électrique des électrodes et celle d'étanchéité du logement de la substance pyrotechnique vis à vis de l'humidité.Thanks to the invention, it is thus possible to produce, by one or two molding operations, the entire structure of the housing, a structure which will provide the function of mechanical maintenance of the pyrotechnic substance, mechanical maintenance and electrical insulation of the electrodes and that of the housing of the pyrotechnic substance with respect to humidity.

Ainsi l'invention a pour objet un initiateur pyrotechnique comprenant une substance pyrotechnique disposée à l'intérieur d'un logement aménagé dans un boîtier réalisé en une matière plastique et fermé par un bouchon également réalisé en matière plastique, le logement comportant une paroi cylindrique, cet initiateur est caractérisé en ce que la paroi présente au moins une fenêtre d'épaisseur réduite, formant une seule pièce avec la paroi, et destinée à se rompre lors de l'initiation de la substance, le bouchon comportant un épaulement et une gorge annulaire dans laquelle est ajustée une extrémité cylindrique amincie du boîtier, un jeu subsistant entre l'épaulement du bouchon et le boîtier de façon à permettre un maintien en appui du bouchon sur la substance pyrotechnique au cours de la fixation du bouchon.Thus, the subject of the invention is a pyrotechnic initiator comprising a pyrotechnic substance placed inside a housing arranged in a housing made of a plastic material and closed by a plug also made of plastic material, the housing comprising a cylindrical wall, this initiator is characterized in that the wall has at least one window of reduced thickness, forming a single piece with the wall, and intended to break during the initiation of the substance, the stopper comprising a shoulder and an annular groove in which a thinned cylindrical end of the casing is adjusted, a clearance remaining between the shoulder of the plug and the casing so as to allow the plug to remain supported on the pyrotechnic substance during the fixing of the plug.

Ainsi le matériau du boîtier assure rigidité et confinement, la présence de zones d'épaisseurs réduites aménagées sur le boîtier lui-même ou bien sur son bouchon permet la transmission pyrotechnique avec un minimum de fragments.Thus, the material of the housing ensures rigidity and confinement, the presence of zones of reduced thicknesses arranged on the housing itself or else on its cap allows pyrotechnic transmission with a minimum of fragments.

L'appui du bouchon sur la substance permet d'assurer une légère compression de la substance lors de la fixation du bouchon ce qui augmente la sûreté et la fiabilité de l'initiateur en interdisant tout espace vide de substance à l'intérieur du boîtier.The support of the stopper on the substance makes it possible to ensure a slight compression of the substance during the fixing of the stopper which increases the safety and the reliability of the initiator by preventing any empty space of substance inside the case.

Dans le cas où l'initiateur comporte un moyen d'initiation de la substance disposé au fond du boîtier, une telle disposition permet également d'assurer un bon contact entre la substance et le moyen d'initiation.In the case where the initiator comprises a means for initiating the substance disposed at the bottom of the housing, such an arrangement also makes it possible to ensure good contact between the substance and the initiation means.

L'adoption d'une matière plastique identique pour le bouchon et le boîtier permet de simplifier la définition de l'initiateur en limitant les études de compatibilité chimique des composants du boîtier avec la substance pyrotechnique.The adoption of an identical plastic material for the cap and the case simplifies the definition of the initiator by limiting the chemical compatibility studies of the components of the housing with the pyrotechnic substance.

L'invention a également pour objet un initiateur pyrotechnique comprenant une substance pyrotechnique disposée à l'intérieur d'un logement aménagé dans un boîtier réalisé en une matière plastique, et fermé par un bouchon également réalisé en matière plastique, le logement comportant une paroi cylindrique, cet initiateur est caractérisé en ce que le bouchon présente une zone d'épaisseur réduite destinée à se rompre lors de l'initiation de la substance, et comporte un épaulement et une gorge annulaire dans laquelle est ajustée une extrémité cylindrique amincie du boîtier, un jeu subsistant entre l'épaulement du bouchon et le boîtier de façon à permettre un maintien en appui du bouchon sur la substance pyrotechnique au cours de la fixation du bouchon.The invention also relates to a pyrotechnic initiator comprising a pyrotechnic substance disposed inside a housing arranged in a housing made of a plastic material, and closed by a plug also made of plastic material, the housing comprising a cylindrical wall. , this initiator is characterized in that the plug has a zone of reduced thickness intended to break during the initiation of the substance, and comprises a shoulder and an annular groove in which is fitted a thinned cylindrical end of the housing, a play remaining between the shoulder of the plug and the casing so as to allow the plug to remain supported on the pyrotechnic substance during the fixing of the plug.

La zone d'épaisseur réduite est alors aménagée sur le bouchon et non sur le boîtier, une telle variante permet d'assurer une initiation suivant une direction axiale du boîtier. L'initiateur selon cette variante pourra également comporter des fenêtres d'épaisseur réduites formant une seule pièce avec la paroi.The reduced thickness zone is then fitted on the plug and not on the housing, such a variant makes it possible to ensure initiation in an axial direction of the housing. The initiator according to this variant may also include windows of reduced thickness forming a single piece with the wall.

Le moyen d'initiation pourra être constitué par un fil résistif, une plaquette semi-conductrice ou l'extrémité d'une fibre optique.The initiation means may consist of a resistive wire, a semiconductor wafer or the end of an optical fiber.

Selon un mode de réalisation préféré, les fenêtres sont aménagées à l'extérieur de la paroi, le logement présentant alors une surface interne cylindrique lisse.According to a preferred embodiment, the windows are arranged outside the wall, the housing then having a smooth cylindrical internal surface.

Une telle disposition facilite la mise en place par compression de la substance pyrotechnique dans le logement.Such an arrangement facilitates the introduction by compression of the pyrotechnic substance in the housing.

Selon une variante de l'invention, le bouchon présente une zone d'épaisseur réduite destinée à se rompre lors de l'initiation de la substance.According to a variant of the invention, the stopper has an area of reduced thickness intended to rupture during the initiation of the substance.

Selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention, le boîtier est formé d'une base et d'une jupe rendues solidaires l'une de l'autre par un moyen de liaison, la jupe portant la paroi sur laquelle sont réalisées les fenêtres.According to another embodiment of the invention, the housing is formed of a base and a skirt made integral with each other by a connecting means, the skirt carrying the wall on which the windows are made.

Un tel mode de réalisation permet de faciliter la fabrication du boîtier et en particulier la fixation des moyens d'initiation au fond du boîtier (par exemple la soudure d'un fil résistif ou d'une plaquette semi-conductrice sur les électrodes).Such an embodiment makes it possible to facilitate the manufacture of the housing and in particular the fixing of the initiation means to the bottom of the housing (for example the welding of a resistive wire or of a semiconductor wafer on the electrodes).

Selon une autre caractéristique, la jupe a une longueur comprise entre 1,5 et 2,5 fois le diamètre du logement.According to another characteristic, the skirt has a length of between 1.5 and 2.5 times the diameter of the housing.

Le boîtier pourra être recouvert d'une métallisation.The housing may be covered with a metallization.

Le boîtier pourra également être recouvert d'un capuchon métallique qui recouvre à la fois le bouchon et la paroi cylindrique.The housing may also be covered with a metal cap which covers both the plug and the cylindrical wall.

Selon un mode particulier de réalisation, l'initiateur comporte deux électrodes noyées dans le matériau du boîtier et dont les extrémités dépassent légèrement au niveau d'une base du logement, la longueur de surmoulage de chaque électrode étant comprise entre 5 et 10 fois son diamètre.According to a particular embodiment, the initiator comprises two electrodes embedded in the material of the housing and the ends of which protrude slightly at the level of a base of the housing, the overmolding length of each electrode being between 5 and 10 times its diameter .

Le bouchon sera de façon préférée fixé au boîtier par soudure aux ultrasons.The plug will preferably be fixed to the housing by ultrasonic welding.

De même, la jupe et la base du boîtier seront rendues solidaires l'une de l'autre par soudure aux ultrasons.Likewise, the skirt and the base of the housing will be made integral with one another by ultrasonic welding.

La matière plastique du boîtier et/ou du bouchon sera de préférence du type polyamide ou polycarbonate.The plastic material of the housing and / or the plug will preferably be of the polyamide or polycarbonate type.

Elle pourra par exemple être du polycarbonate chargé de fibres de verre.It could for example be polycarbonate loaded with glass fibers.

Selon un mode de réalisation préféré, la substance pyrotechnique est déposée dans le boîtier par un procédé de chargement par voie humide.According to a preferred embodiment, the pyrotechnic substance is deposited in the housing by a wet loading process.

Ce mode de chargement assure la sécurité de la fabrication et permet de remplir d'une façon optimale le logement du boîtier.This loading mode ensures manufacturing safety and allows the housing of the housing to be optimally filled.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui va suivre de modes particuliers de réalisation, description faite en référence aux dessins annexés et dans lesquels:

  • la figure 1 est une vue schématique en coupe longitudinale d'un initiateur illustrant un aspect partiel de l'invention, notamment une paroi comportant une fenêtre d'épaisseur réduite, en absence du jeu,
  • la figure 2 est une coupe transversale de la précédente suivant le plan dont la trace AA est repérée sur la figure 1 (représentée sans la substance pyrotechnique),
  • la figure 3 représente un détail de la partie inférieure du boîtier suivant la direction X de la figure 1,
  • la figure 4 représente une variante de réalisation du montage des électrodes sur le boîtier,
  • la figure 5 représente une variante du type tel que montré à la fig. 1,
  • la figure 6 représente une autre variante de réalisation illustrant un aspect partiel de l'invention sans toutefois montrer le jeu,
  • la figure 7 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un initiateur selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention,
  • la figure 7a représente une variante de ce deuxième mode de réalisation,
  • la figure 8 est une coupe transversale de la précédente suivant le plan dont la trace BB est repérée sur la figure 7 (représentée sans la substance pyrotechnique),
  • la figure 9 est une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un initiateur selon un troisième mode de réalisation de l'invention.
The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows of particular embodiments, description made with reference to the appended drawings and in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view in longitudinal section of an initiator illustrating a partial aspect of the invention, in particular a wall comprising a window of reduced thickness, in the absence of play,
  • FIG. 2 is a cross section of the previous one along the plane, the trace AA of which is identified in FIG. 1 (shown without the pyrotechnic substance),
  • FIG. 3 represents a detail of the lower part of the housing in the direction X of FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 4 represents an alternative embodiment of the mounting of the electrodes on the housing,
  • FIG. 5 represents a variant of the type as shown in FIG. 1,
  • FIG. 6 represents another variant embodiment illustrating a partial aspect of the invention without, however, showing the game,
  • FIG. 7 is a view in longitudinal section of an initiator according to a second embodiment of the invention,
  • FIG. 7a represents a variant of this second embodiment,
  • FIG. 8 is a cross section of the previous one along the plane, the trace BB of which is identified in FIG. 7 (shown without the pyrotechnic substance),
  • Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of an initiator according to a third embodiment of the invention.

En se reportant à la figure 1, un initiateur 1 comprend une substance pyrotechnique 2 de type connu, (par exemple un explosif (détonateur) ou une composition pyrotechnique inflammatrice), substance disposée dans un logement, 3, sensiblement cylindrique, qui est aménagé dans un boîtier 4.Referring to Figure 1, an initiator 1 comprises a pyrotechnic substance 2 of known type (for example an explosive (detonator) or an inflammatory pyrotechnic composition), substance disposed in a housing, 3, substantially cylindrical, which is arranged in a housing 4.

Le boîtier 4 est traversé par deux électrodes métalliques 5a, 5b, dont les extrémités 6a, 6b dépassent légèrement (de quelques dixièmes de mm) au niveau d'un fond 7 du logement 3.Two metallic electrodes 5a, 5b pass through the housing 4, the ends 6a, 6b of which protrude slightly (by a few tenths of a mm) at the bottom 7 of the housing 3.

Un moyen d'initiation de la substance pyrotechnique est fixé entre les électrodes. Ce moyen est ici un fil résistif 8 qui relie les électrodes 5a et 5b et qui est fixé par soudure sur chacune des extrémités 6a et 6b.A means for initiating the pyrotechnic substance is fixed between the electrodes. This means is here a resistive wire 8 which connects the electrodes 5a and 5b and which is fixed by welding on each of the ends 6a and 6b.

Les caractéristiques électriques du fil 8 sont déterminées de façon classique par l'homme du métier en fonction des caractéristiques pyrotechniques de la substance 2. On pourra par exemple adopter un fil de résistance 2 ohms pour une substance du type quaternaire (à quatre éléments telle une substance connue comme l'association Perchlorate de Potassium - Thyocyanate de Plomb - Sulfure d'antimoine - Tricinate de Plomb).The electrical characteristics of the wire 8 are determined in a conventional manner by a person skilled in the art as a function of the pyrotechnic characteristics of the substance 2. We could for example adopt a resistance wire 2 ohms for a substance of the quaternary type (with four elements such as a substance known as the combination of Potassium Perchlorate - Lead Thyocyanate - Antimony Sulfide - Lead Tricinate).

Le boîtier 4 est réalisé en matière plastique du type Polyamide ou polycarbonate, matière éventuellement chargée de fibres de verre pour augmenter sa résistance mécanique.The housing 4 is made of plastic material of the Polyamide or polycarbonate type, a material possibly loaded with glass fibers to increase its mechanical strength.

Ainsi le boîtier 4 est surmoulé ou injecté sur les électrodes 5a et 5b. Ces dernières pourront présenter des aspérités sur leur surface externe pour améliorer l'accrochage du matériau constitutif du boîtier et augmenter la tenue mécanique de l'initiateur.Thus the housing 4 is molded or injected on the electrodes 5a and 5b. The latter may have roughness on their external surface to improve the attachment of the material of the housing and increase the mechanical strength of the initiator.

Afin d'assurer une rigidité suffisante du montage des électrodes dans le boîtier (et donc de la tenue du filament résistif) on définira un boîtier 4 tel que la longueur de surmoulage des électrodes soit suffisante, soit de 5 à 10 fois le diamètre de l'électrode.In order to ensure sufficient rigidity of the mounting of the electrodes in the housing (and therefore of the resistance of the resistive filament), a housing 4 will be defined such that the length of overmolding of the electrodes is sufficient, ie from 5 to 10 times the diameter of the 'electrode.

La figure 4 montre une variante dans laquelle les électrodes comportent des gorges 9 à l'intérieur desquelles le matériau du boîtier pénètre lors de la fabrication.FIG. 4 shows a variant in which the electrodes have grooves 9 inside which the material of the housing penetrates during manufacture.

Le boîtier 4 comporte un renflement 17 qui donne une surface d'appui permettant par exemple sa mise en place dans un logement aménagé dans une substance pyrotechnique ou dans un dispositif d'initiation non représentés (logement au diamètre du boîtier).The housing 4 includes a bulge 17 which gives a bearing surface allowing for example its installation in a housing arranged in a pyrotechnic substance or in an initiation device not shown (housing to the diameter of the housing).

La paroi cylindrique 10 du logement 3 présente trois zones 11 dont l'épaisseur est réduite. La réduction d'épaisseur est faite à l'intérieur du logement 3, ainsi cette réduction d'épaisseur n'est pas visible de l'extérieur de l'initiateur, l'extérieur de la paroi 10 présente donc une surface cylindrique lisse.The cylindrical wall 10 of the housing 3 has three zones 11 whose thickness is reduced. The thickness reduction is made inside the housing 3, so this thickness reduction is not visible from the outside of the initiator, the outside of the wall 10 therefore has a smooth cylindrical surface.

Les zones 11 d'épaisseur réduite sont obtenues facilement lors de la fabrication du boîtier par moulage dans un outil approprié. Il suffit de prévoir un moule dont une partie mobile est au diamètre souhaité pour le logement 3 et comporte trois doigts coulissants qui donneront la forme des zones d'épaisseur réduites 11.The zones 11 of reduced thickness are easily obtained during the manufacture of the housing by molding in a suitable tool. It suffices to provide a mold of which a movable part is of the desired diameter for the housing 3 and comprises three sliding fingers which will give the shape of the zones of reduced thickness 11.

Ces trois zones 11 constituent des fenêtres fragiles qui seront brisées par la pression générée par la substance pyrotechnique lors de son initiation. L'épaisseur de ces fenêtres sera de l'ordre de 0.5 à 1 mm. Elles jouent donc le rôle du paillet de fermeture des initiateurs selon l'état de la technique, mais ne nécessitent pas une étape de montage supplémentaire puisqu'elles sont obtenues avec le boîtier et constituent une seule pièce avec ce-dernier.These three zones 11 constitute fragile windows which will be broken by the pressure generated by the pyrotechnic substance during its initiation. The thickness of these windows will be of the order of 0.5 to 1 mm. They therefore play the role of the initiator's closing straw according to the state of technique, but do not require an additional mounting step since they are obtained with the housing and constitute a single piece with the latter.

Les fenêtres 11 permettent ainsi la transmission à une chaîne pyrotechnique suivant une direction radiale de l'initiateur.The windows 11 thus allow transmission to a pyrotechnic chain in a radial direction of the initiator.

La substance pyrotechnique 2 est mise on place par compression à l'intérieur du logement 3. Au cours de cette étape de fabrication, elle pénètre à l'intérieur des zones d'épaisseur réduite 11.The pyrotechnic substance 2 is placed by compression inside the housing 3. During this manufacturing step, it penetrates inside the zones of reduced thickness 11.

La tenue mécanique des fenêtres n'est pas affectée par l'opération de compression malgré leur épaisseur faible.The mechanical strength of the windows is not affected by the compression operation despite their small thickness.

En effet on maintiendra pendant cette opération la surface cylindrique externe de la paroi 10 dans un outillage de forme complémentaire, cet outillage assurera le maintien des fenêtres et autorisera la compression de la substance pyrotechnique sans déformation des fenêtres.In fact, the external cylindrical surface of the wall 10 will be maintained during this operation in a tool of complementary shape, this tool will ensure the maintenance of the windows and will allow the compression of the pyrotechnic substance without deformation of the windows.

Le logement 3 est fermé par un bouchon 12. Ce dernier présente une partie cylindrique 12a de diamètre réduit qui est ajustée dans le logement 3 et un épaulement 12b.The housing 3 is closed by a plug 12. The latter has a cylindrical portion 12a of reduced diameter which is adjusted in the housing 3 and a shoulder 12b.

L'ajustement de la partie cylindrique 12a dans l'alésage du logement augmente la rigidité du boîtier 4 au niveau de la paroi 10.The adjustment of the cylindrical part 12a in the bore of the housing increases the rigidity of the housing 4 at the level of the wall 10.

Le bouchon est réalisé dans le même matériau que le boîtier 4. Il est fixé sur le boîtier par soudure à ultra sons.The plug is made of the same material as the housing 4. It is fixed to the housing by ultrasonic welding.

Ainsi l'initiateur constitue un ensemble totalement étanche.Thus the initiator constitutes a completely sealed assembly.

La partie inférieure du boîtier 4 de l'initiateur présente deux doigts élastiques 13 et une languette de positionnement 14 qui permettent sa fixation d'une façon connue sur un connecteur électrique. La figure 3 montre la partie inférieure du boîtier suivant la direction X de la figure 1 et précise la forme des doigts 13.The lower part of the casing 4 of the initiator has two elastic fingers 13 and a positioning tab 14 which allow it to be fixed in a known manner to an electrical connector. FIG. 3 shows the lower part of the housing in the direction X of FIG. 1 and specifies the shape of the fingers 13.

On constate ainsi que l'initiateur selon l'invention peut être fabriqué aisément et à moindre coût, la fabrication ne nécessitant que peu d'opérations et chaque opération étant simple et facilement automatisable.It can thus be seen that the initiator according to the invention can be manufactured easily and at low cost, the manufacture requiring only a few operations and each operation being simple and easily automated.

En effet une seule opération de surmoulage permet de fabriquer l'ensemble du boîtier équipé de ses électrodes.In fact, a single overmolding operation makes it possible to manufacture the entire housing equipped with its electrodes.

Le filament est soudé sur les électrodes au moyen des techniques de soudure adaptées au cablage de circuits intégrés, technique peu onéreuse et permettant des cadences de fabrication élevées.The filament is welded to the electrodes by means of welding techniques adapted to the wiring of integrated circuits, an inexpensive technique and allowing high production rates.

La substance est mise en place par compression directement dans le logement du boîtier et sur le filament.The substance is placed by compression directly in the housing of the housing and on the filament.

Le bouchon est soudé sur le boîtier et assure une étanchéité parfaite tout en augmentant la rigidité mécanique de l'ensemble.The plug is welded to the housing and ensures a perfect seal while increasing the mechanical rigidity of the assembly.

A titre de variante il est possible de fixer le bouchon sur le boîtier par collage.As a variant, it is possible to fix the plug on the housing by gluing.

Il est également possible de réaliser la fixation du boîtier par clipsage, la figure 5 montre le détail de la fixation du bouchon sur le boîtier dans le cas de ce dernier mode de réalisation.It is also possible to secure the housing by clipping, Figure 5 shows the detail of the fixing of the plug on the housing in the case of the latter embodiment.

Le boîtier 4 présente alors au niveau de son logement 3 une gorge annulaire 15 dans laquelle pénètre un bourrelet 16 aménagé sur la partie cylindrique 12a du bouchon.The housing 4 then has at its housing 3 an annular groove 15 into which penetrates a bead 16 arranged on the cylindrical part 12a of the plug.

La mise en place s'effectue par déformation élastique. L'étanchéité est complétée par un dépôt de vernis sur la surface externe de la paroi 10 au niveau de la séparation entre bouchon et boîtier.The positioning is carried out by elastic deformation. The seal is completed by a deposit of varnish on the external surface of the wall 10 at the level of the separation between plug and case.

On peut également compléter la liaison par dépôt de colle entre l'épaulement 12b du bouchon et le boîtier.The connection can also be completed by depositing adhesive between the shoulder 12b of the plug and the housing.

A titre de variante il est possible également de réaliser un initiateur dans lequel le boîtier 4 ne comporte pas de zones de réduction d'épaisseur 11, mais dans lequel une zone d'épaisseur réduite 18 est aménagée dans le bouchon 12 (voir figure 6).As a variant, it is also possible to produce an initiator in which the housing 4 does not have thickness reduction zones 11, but in which a reduced thickness zone 18 is arranged in the plug 12 (see FIG. 6) .

La zone 18 est obtenue directement lors du moulage du bouchon 12. Elle résulte de l'aménagement d'une cavité 19 qui présente ici un profil conique mais qui pourrait être cylindrique.The zone 18 is obtained directly during the molding of the plug 12. It results from the arrangement of a cavity 19 which here has a conical profile but which could be cylindrical.

La cavité 19 est disposée à l'extérieur du bouchon 12 ainsi la zone d'épaisseur réduite 18 vient en contact avec la substance pyrotechnique 2 et réalise un calage de cette dernière.The cavity 19 is arranged outside the plug 12 so the zone of reduced thickness 18 comes into contact with the pyrotechnic substance 2 and performs a setting of the latter.

Il serait possible néanmoins de disposer la cavité 19 à l'intérieur du bouchon 12.It would nevertheless be possible to arrange the cavity 19 inside the plug 12.

Il serait également possible de prévoir plusieurs zones d'épaisseur réduite 18 sur le bouchon.It would also be possible to provide several zones of reduced thickness 18 on the plug.

La pression générée par la substance pyrotechnique 2 brisera la zone d'épaisseur réduite 18.The pressure generated by the pyrotechnic substance 2 will break the zone of reduced thickness 18.

Ce dernier type d'initiateur permettra la transmission d'un effet pyrotechnique à une chaîne pyrotechnique suivant une direction axiale du boîtier.This last type of initiator will allow the transmission of a pyrotechnic effect to a pyrotechnic chain in an axial direction of the housing.

Il est également possible de définir un composant selon l'invention dans lequel l'initiation de la substance pyrotechnique est réalisée suivant une autre technique que celle du fil résistif et utilise d'autres moyens d'initiation.It is also possible to define a component according to the invention in which the initiation of the pyrotechnic substance is carried out using a technique other than that of the resistive wire and uses other initiation means.

On pourra par exemple relier par soudure les électrodes 5a et 5b à une plaquette de semi-conducteur, de circuit imprimé ou de circuit intégré, qui pourra elle même être collée au fond 7 du logement 3.We could for example connect by welding the electrodes 5a and 5b to a semiconductor wafer, printed circuit or integrated circuit, which can itself be glued to the bottom 7 of the housing 3.

La plaquette constitue alors les moyens d'initiation de la substance pyrotechnique.The plate then constitutes the means of initiation of the pyrotechnic substance.

Le mode d'initiation par pont semi-conducteur est connu de l'homme du métier et ne sera pas décrit plus en détail. On pourra par exemple se reporter au brevet US4924774 qui décrit un initiateur à pont semi-conducteur.The mode of initiation by semiconductor bridge is known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in more detail. We can for example refer to patent US4924774 which describes a semiconductor bridge initiator.

On pourra également réaliser une initiation par voie optique, les électrodes seront remplacées au cours du surmoulage du boîtier par un support pour une fibre optique.It will also be possible to initiate optically, the electrodes will be replaced during overmolding of the housing by a support for an optical fiber.

L'extrémité de la fibre optique constitue alors les moyens d'initiation de la substance pyrotechnique.The end of the optical fiber then constitutes the means for initiating the pyrotechnic substance.

La substance sera dans ce cas une substance sensible aux photons (à l'intensité lumineuse ou à l'onde de choc). De telles substances sont connues de l'homme du métier, on pourra par exemple se reporter aux brevets FR9002566 et FR9014662 qui décrivent de telles substances.In this case, the substance will be a substance sensitive to photons (light intensity or shock wave). Such substances are known to those skilled in the art, reference may for example be made to patents FR9002566 and FR9014662 which describe such substances.

On pourra enfin réaliser un composant selon l'invention destiné à être initié par percussion mécanique. Dans ce dernier cas le boîtier présentera une première zone d'épaisseur réduite destinée à permettre sa traversée par un percuteur et au moins une autre zone d'épaisseur réduite, aménagée sur la paroi du boîtier ou sur le bouchon, et destinée à transmettre l'effet pyrotechnique à une chaîne pyrotechnique.Finally, it is possible to produce a component according to the invention intended to be initiated by mechanical percussion. In the latter case, the box will have a first zone of reduced thickness intended to allow its passage through a striker and at least one other zone of reduced thickness, arranged on the wall of the box or on the plug, and intended to transmit the pyrotechnic effect to a pyrotechnic chain.

Les figures 7 et 8 représentent un deuxième mode de réalisation d'un initiateur selon l'invention.Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of an initiator according to the invention.

Le boîtier 4 est constitué ici d'une base 4a et d'une jupe 4b. Base et jupe sont toutes deux réalisées en matière plastique du type Polycarbonate chargé de fibres de verre pour augmenter la tenue mécanique. On adoptera par exemple une charge de 10% à 40% en masse de fibres de verre courtes (quelques dixièmes de millimètre de long).The housing 4 here consists of a base 4a and a skirt 4b. Base and skirt are both made of plastic material such as Polycarbonate loaded with glass fibers to increase mechanical strength. For example, a load of 10% to 40% by mass of short glass fibers (a few tenths of a millimeter long) will be adopted.

La base 4a porte à sa partie inférieure des doigts élastiques 13 permettant sa fixation, doigts identiques à ceux décrits précédemment et qui ne seront donc pas décrits ici plus en détail.The base 4a has elastic fingers 13 at its lower part allowing it to be fixed, fingers identical to those described above and which will therefore not be described here in more detail.

La base 4a comporte un téton central cylindrique 20 sur lequel est ajustée la jupe 4b. La jupe est fixée sur la base par soudure aux ultra-sons, mais un autre mode de fixation pourrait être adopté, par exemple le collage.The base 4a has a cylindrical central stud 20 on which the skirt 4b is adjusted. The skirt is fixed to the base by ultrasonic welding, but another method of fixing could be adopted, for example gluing.

La soudure par ultra-sons est réalisée d'une façon connue en appliquant une sonotrode d'un appareil à souder sur la surface conique externe 31 (suivant les directions repérées S'). Les vibrations de la sonotrode entraînent la soudure des surfaces en contact, soit la surface cylindrique externe du téton et celle de la jupe ainsi que les surfaces d'appui planes 26 et 27.The ultrasonic welding is carried out in a known manner by applying a sonotrode of a welding device to the external conical surface 31 (in the directions marked S '). The vibrations of the sonotrode cause the contacting surfaces to be welded, ie the external cylindrical surface of the stud and that of the skirt as well as the flat bearing surfaces 26 and 27.

Comme dans les modes de réalisation précédents, les électrodes métalliques 5a et 5b traversent la base 4a et leurs extrémités 6a,6b dépassent légèrement au niveau de la face supérieure 21 du téton central 20. Un fil résistif 8 est fixé par soudure sur chacune des extrémités 6a et 6b.As in the previous embodiments, the metal electrodes 5a and 5b pass through the base 4a and their ends 6a, 6b slightly protrude at the level of the upper face 21 of the central stud 20. A resistive wire 8 is fixed by welding on each of the ends 6a and 6b.

Le téton central 20 présente deux méplats 22 qui ont pour fonction de permettre le positionnement d'un outillage (non représenté) assurant la soudure du fil résistif sur les extrémités des électrodes.The central stud 20 has two flats 22 which have the function of allowing the positioning of a tool (not shown) ensuring the welding of the resistive wire on the ends of the electrodes.

La base 4a est surmoulée sur les électrodes 5a et 5b, la longueur de surmoulage de chaque électrode est comprise entre 5 et 10 fois son diamètre pour assurer une rigidité suffisante au montage des électrodes.The base 4a is overmolded on the electrodes 5a and 5b, the overmoulding length of each electrode is between 5 and 10 times its diameter to ensure sufficient rigidity for mounting the electrodes.

La jupe 4b comporte deux zones d'épaisseur réduite formant des fenêtres 11. La réduction d'épaisseur est faite à l'extérieur de la jupe 4b, ainsi le logement 3 présente une surface interne cylindrique lisse.The skirt 4b has two zones of reduced thickness forming windows 11. The thickness reduction is made outside the skirt 4b, thus the housing 3 has a smooth cylindrical internal surface.

L'avantage d'une telle disposition est qu'elle facilite le remplissage du logement 3 avec la substance pyrotechnique 2. Le logement 3 est complètement rempli ce qui augmente la fiabilité de l'initiateur. En effet la présence d'un espace dépourvu de substance pyrotechnique entraînerait le risque d'apparition de frottements internes et surtout risquerait de provoquer un défaut d'initiation si le fil résistif ne se trouvait pas intimement en contact avec la substance pyrotechnique.The advantage of such an arrangement is that it facilitates the filling of the housing 3 with the pyrotechnic substance 2. The housing 3 is completely filled, which increases the reliability of the initiator. Indeed, the presence of a space devoid of pyrotechnic substance would cause the risk of the appearance of internal friction and above all would risk causing an initiation fault if the resistive wire was not intimately in contact with the pyrotechnic substance.

La mise en place de la substance pyrotechnique 2 est effectuée par compression. La tenue mécanique des fenêtres 11 est assurée par un choix judicieux de l'effort de compression par rapport à la résistance mécanique des fenêtres.The pyrotechnic substance 2 is placed by compression. The mechanical strength of the windows 11 is ensured by a judicious choice of the compression force relative to the mechanical strength of the windows.

Le partage du boîtier 4 en deux parties, une base 4a et une jupe 4b permet de faciliter le montage du filament 8 (ou d'un autre moyen d'initiation tel une plaquette semi-conductrice ou une fibre optique).Sharing the housing 4 in two parts, a base 4a and a skirt 4b makes it easier to mount the filament 8 (or another initiation means such as a semiconductor wafer or an optical fiber).

Ainsi la soudure du filament 8 est réalisée sur la base 4a équipé des électrodes. La soudure est facile à exécuter car l'outillage de soudure n'a pas à pénétrer dans un logement cylindrique pour atteindre les extrémités 6a et 6b.Thus the welding of the filament 8 is carried out on the base 4a equipped with the electrodes. Welding is easy to perform because the welding tool does not have to enter a cylindrical housing to reach the ends 6a and 6b.

Les méplats assurent le guidage de l'outillage ce qui accroit la précision et la rapidité de cette opération.The flats guide the tools, which increases the precision and speed of this operation.

Après soudure du filament, la jupe 4b est fixée sur la base 4a. Cette fixation se fera de préférence sur la même machine transfert, juste après le poste de soudure du filament. Cela afin d'éviter toute détérioration du filament consécutive à des manipulations de la base 4a.After welding of the filament, the skirt 4b is fixed to the base 4a. This fixing will preferably be done on the same transfer machine, just after the filament welding station. This is to avoid any deterioration of the filament following manipulations of the base 4a.

La substance pyrotechnique est ensuite déposée suivant le procédé connu de chargement par voie humide.The pyrotechnic substance is then deposited according to the known method of wet loading.

La substance est par exemple une substance quaternaire de type connu et associant dans des proportions classiques non précisées ici et qui sont bien connues de l'homme du métier:

  • un explosif primaire (comme le tricinate de plomb),
  • un oxydant (comme le Perchlorate de potassium, le Chlorate de Potassium, ou le Nitrate de potassium),
  • un réducteur (comme le sulfure d'antimoine, le silicure de Calcium, le graphite ou encore l'aluminium en poudre),
  • un additif destiné à accroître ou diminuer la puissance de l'initiateur (comme le Thyocyanate de plomb, la poudre d'aluminium ou le bioxyde de plomb).
The substance is for example a quaternary substance of known type and combining in conventional proportions not specified here and which are well known to those skilled in the art:
  • a primary explosive (such as lead tricinate),
  • an oxidant (such as potassium perchlorate, potassium chlorate, or potassium nitrate),
  • a reducing agent (such as antimony sulfide, Calcium silicide, graphite or aluminum powder),
  • an additive intended to increase or decrease the power of the initiator (such as lead thyocyanate, aluminum powder or lead dioxide).

Cette substance sera mélangée à 1 à 5% en masse d'un liant comme la gomme naturelle ou un liant synthétique et avec de l'eau (5 à 30% en masse).This substance will be mixed with 1 to 5% by mass of a binder such as natural gum or a synthetic binder and with water (5 to 30% by mass).

L'avantage de réaliser un mélange humide est qu'il est alors possible de travailler ce mélange et de diviser la substance en réduisant les risques d'initiation inopinée.The advantage of making a wet mixture is that it is then possible to work this mixture and to divide the substance while reducing the risks of unexpected initiation.

La substance est ainsi mise en forme de pastilles du diamètre du logement 3 du boîtier avec un outillage approprié. Un poinçon assure une compression modérée (20 à 40 mégapascals) de cette pastille ce qui permet à la substance pyrotechnique de remplir complètement le logement 3 et d'être en contact intime avec le filament 8.The substance is thus shaped into pellets of the diameter of the housing 3 of the housing with appropriate tools. A punch ensures moderate compression (20 to 40 megapascals) of this pellet which allows the pyrotechnic substance to completely fill the housing 3 and to be in intimate contact with the filament 8.

La compression a également pour effet de chasser l'eau vers le dessus de la substance. Les initiateurs chargés passent ensuite dans un tunnel chaud (50 à 80°C) qui provoque l'évaporation de l'eau. Le séchage de la substance a pour effet de lui restituer sa sensibilité.Compression also drives water away from the top of the substance. The charged initiators then pass through a hot tunnel (50 to 80 ° C) which causes the water to evaporate. The drying of the substance has the effect of restoring its sensitivity.

Un bouchon de fermeture 12 réalisé dans un matériau identique à celui du boîtier est positionné de façon à obturer le logement 3.A closure plug 12 made of a material identical to that of the housing is positioned so as to close the housing 3.

Le bouchon 12 comporte une face frontale 23 qui est en appui sur la substance pyrotechnique 2.The plug 12 has a front face 23 which bears on the pyrotechnic substance 2.

La partie cylindrique 12a du bouohon est ajustée dans le logement 3 ce qui augmente la rigidité du boîtier 4 au niveau de la paroi 10 de la jupe 4b.The cylindrical part 12a of the plug is adjusted in the housing 3 which increases the rigidity of the housing 4 at the level of the wall 10 of the skirt 4b.

Il subsiste un jeu j de l'ordre du dixième de millimètre entre l'épaulement 12b du bouchon et le boîtier 4 (jeu exagéré sur la figure).There remains a clearance j of the order of a tenth of a millimeter between the shoulder 12b of the plug and the housing 4 (exaggerated clearance in the figure).

Le bouchon 12 comporte une gorge annulaire 24 qui reçoit une extrémité cylindrique amincie 25 de la jupe 4b. Une telle disposition est destinée à permettre la fixation du bouchon sur la jupe (par exemple par soudure aux ultra-sons) tout en maintenant le bouchon en appui sur la substance pyrotechnique.The plug 12 has an annular groove 24 which receives a tapered cylindrical end 25 of the skirt 4b. Such an arrangement is intended to allow the fixing of the plug on the skirt (for example by ultrasonic welding) while keeping the plug in abutment on the pyrotechnic substance.

Il sera possible de jouer sur la profondeur de la gorge pour augmenter la surface de contact entre le bouchon et la jupe ce qui augmente la résistance mécanique de la soudure.It will be possible to play on the depth of the groove to increase the contact surface between the plug and the skirt, which increases the mechanical resistance of the weld.

La soudure par ultra-sons est réalisée d'une façon connue en appliquant une sonotrode d'un appareil à souder sur une couronne circulaire de la face plane externe du bouchon, couronne située sensiblement au droit de l'extrémité amincie 25 de la jupe 4b (repères S).The ultrasonic welding is carried out in a known manner by applying a sonotrode of a welding device on a circular crown of the outer flat face of the plug, crown located substantially in line with the thinned end 25 of the skirt 4b (S marks).

Les vibrations de la sonotrode entraînent la soudure des surfaces en contact, c'est à dire les surfaces cylindriques de l'extrémité 25 et de gorge 24.The vibrations of the sonotrode cause the welding of the contacting surfaces, that is to say the cylindrical surfaces of the end 25 and of the groove 24.

Il serait également possible de réaliser la soudure en appliquant la sonotrode sur la surface cylindrique externe du bouchon 12 en regard de l'extrémité amincie 25 (repères T').It would also be possible to carry out the welding by applying the sonotrode to the external cylindrical surface of the plug 12 opposite the thinned end 25 (marks T ').

Pendant l'opération de soudure, la présence d'un jeu j (de l'ordre du dixième de mm) permet de maintenir le bouchon 12 en appui contre la substance pyrotechnique 2.During the welding operation, the presence of a clearance j (of the order of a tenth of a mm) keeps the plug 12 in abutment against the pyrotechnic substance 2.

Une telle disposition permet d'une part d'éviter la présence d'un espace vide à l'intérieur du boîtier ce qui limite les risques de frottement, et d'autre part permet d'assurer un bon contact entre la substance pyrotechnique et le moyen d'initiation.Such an arrangement makes it possible on the one hand to avoid the presence of an empty space inside the housing which limits the risks of friction, and on the other hand makes it possible to ensure good contact between the pyrotechnic substance and the means of initiation.

On augmente ainsi sûreté et fiabilité de l'initiateur.This increases the safety and reliability of the initiator.

Dans le cas où la substance est chargée par voie humide, la soudure du bouchon est réalisée après évaporation de l'eau comme cela a été décrit précédemment.In the case where the substance is loaded wet, the plug is welded after evaporation of the water as described above.

Le bouchon 12 comporte enfin une cavité 19 disposée à l'extérieur du bouchon et qui ménage une zone d'épaisseur réduite 18 sur le bouchon. Cette zone permet la transmission d'un effet, pyrotechnique suivant une direction axiale de l'initiateur. Elle permet également d'assurer une rupture du bouchon à un endroit prédéterminé en plus des fenêtres 11.The plug 12 finally comprises a cavity 19 disposed outside the plug and which provides an area of reduced thickness 18 on the plug. This zone allows the transmission of a pyrotechnic effect in an axial direction of the initiator. It also makes it possible to ensure a rupture of the plug at a predetermined location in addition to the windows 11.

On limite ainsi la fragmentation du boîtier 4 lors de l'initiation de la substance pyrotechnique 2, ce qui permet d'éviter que des fragments du matériau du boîtier ne viennent nuire au fonctionnement du système pyrotechnique allumé par l'initiateur.This limits the fragmentation of the housing 4 during the initiation of the pyrotechnic substance 2, which prevents fragments of the housing material from affecting the operation of the pyrotechnic system ignited by the initiator.

La surface externe de l'initiateur est entièrement recouverte (à l'exception de la surface qui sépare les électrodes) avec un dépôt, d'un matériau conducteur, par exemple d'acier inoxydable. Ce dépôt est mis en place par la technologie connue de la métallisation sous vide par évaporation.The external surface of the initiator is completely covered (with the exception of the surface which separates the electrodes) with a deposit, of a conductive material, for example stainless steel. This deposit is implemented by the known technology of vacuum metallization by evaporation.

Le dépôt pourrait également être réalisé par pulvérisation, pulvérisation cathodique ou par électrodéposition. D'autres matériaux conducteurs, en particulier métalliques, pourraient être adoptés, par exemple des dépôts d'aluminium, de chrome ou de Nickel.The deposition could also be carried out by spraying, sputtering or by electrodeposition. Other conductive materials, in particular metallic, could be adopted, for example aluminum, chromium or nickel deposits.

Ce revêtement forme une cage de Faraday qui protège l'initiateur des courants induits par l'environnement électromagnétique.This coating forms a Faraday cage which protects the initiator from the currents induced by the electromagnetic environment.

La réalisation des liaisons de la base et de la jupe ainsi que de la jupe et du bouchon par soudure aux ultra-sons permet d'obtenir un niveau d'étanchéité parfait de l'initiateur vis à vis des agressions extérieures (humidité, graisses, solvants), ce qui est particulièrement intéressant dans le cas des composants destinés à l'automobile.The making of the connections of the base and of the skirt as well as of the skirt and of the plug by ultrasonic welding makes it possible to obtain a perfect level of tightness of the initiator with respect to external aggressions (humidity, greases, solvents), which is particularly interesting in the case of components intended for the automobile.

Du fait de la séparation du boîtier 4 en deux parties, une base 4a et une jupe 4b, il est très facile de souder le filament résistif sur les électrodes, et il devient possible de mettre en place une jupe de longueur importante sans pour autant nuire à la facilité de fabrication.Due to the separation of the housing 4 into two parts, a base 4a and a skirt 4b, it is very easy to weld the resistive filament on the electrodes, and it becomes possible to put in place a skirt of considerable length without harming ease of manufacture.

Afin d'assurer une fixation suffisamment rigide du bouchon il est préférable que la partie cylindrique 12a de celui-ci ait une longueur supérieure ou égale à 0,5 fois son diamètre.In order to ensure a sufficiently rigid fixing of the plug, it is preferable that the cylindrical part 12a thereof has a length greater than or equal to 0.5 times its diameter.

On voit donc qu'en adoptant une jupe de longueur suffisante il est possible de définir très facilement des Initiateurs de puissances différentes tout en conservant le même boîtier 4. Il suffit pour cela de mettre en place dans le logement 3 une masse de substance pyrotechnique 2 différente et de prévoir un bouchon 12 de longueur également différente.It can therefore be seen that by adopting a skirt of sufficient length, it is possible to very easily define initiators of different powers while retaining the same housing 4. It suffices for this to place in the housing 3 a mass of pyrotechnic substance 2 different and to provide a plug 12 of also different length.

La figure 7a montre ainsi un initiateur (dont la jupe est identique à celle de l'initiateur de la figure 7) et contenant deux fois plus de substance pyrotechnique 2. Cet initiateur est alors fermé par un bouchon dont la partie cylindrique 12a est deux fois plus courte.FIG. 7a thus shows an initiator (whose skirt is identical to that of the initiator in FIG. 7) and containing twice as much pyrotechnic substance 2. This initiator is then closed by a plug whose cylindrical part 12a is twice shorter.

D'une façon pratique on donnera à la jupe 4b une longueur totale L comprise entre 1,5 et 2,6 fois le diamètre du logement 3 (et de préférence égale à 2 fois le diamètre).In a practical manner, the skirt 4b will be given a total length L of between 1.5 and 2.6 times the diameter of the housing 3 (and preferably equal to 2 times the diameter).

Une telle disposition permet de faire varier de façon significative la masse de substance pyrotechnique en ayant toujours pour le bouchon 12 une surface de guidage cylindrique de longueur supérieure à 0,5 fois le diamètre du logement 3.Such an arrangement makes it possible to vary the mass of pyrotechnic substance significantly by always having for the plug 12 a cylindrical guide surface of length greater than 0.5 times the diameter of the housing 3.

La figure 9 montre un dernier mode de réalisation de l'invention dans lequel le boîtier 4 est analogue à celui représenté aux figures 7 et 8 et comporte une base 4a et une jupe 4b. Ce boîtier ne sera donc pas décrit plus en détail.Figure 9 shows a last embodiment of the invention in which the housing 4 is similar to that shown in Figures 7 and 8 and has a base 4a and a skirt 4b. This box will therefore not be described in more detail.

La différence entre ce mode de réalisation et le précédent tient à la présence d'un capuchon métallique 28.The difference between this embodiment and the previous one is due to the presence of a metal cap 28.

Ce capuchon est réalisé en laiton de quelques dixièmes de millimètres d'épaisseur qui est recouvert de chrome pour éviter sa corrosion. Il entoure complètement le bouchon 12 et la jupe 4b, et vient en appui par son extrémité sur une surface de butée 29 de la base 4a.This cap is made of brass a few tenths of a millimeter thick, which is covered with chrome to prevent corrosion. It completely surrounds the plug 12 and the skirt 4b, and comes to bear at its end on an abutment surface 29 of the base 4a.

Le capuchon 28 est percé d'ouvertures circulaires 30 disposées en regard des fenêtres 11. Il est monté à force sur le boîtier (ajustement serré sur la surface cylindrique externe du boîtier obtenu par exemple en donnant un profil légèrement conique à l'intérieur du capuchon).The cap 28 is pierced with circular openings 30 arranged opposite the windows 11. It is force-fitted on the housing (tight fit on the external cylindrical surface of the housing obtained for example by giving a slightly conical profile inside the cap ).

Le capuchon a pour fonction d'une part de compléter la cage de Faraday entourant l'initiateur pyrotechnique. Il se trouve ainsi on contact électrique avec la métallisation qui recouvre le boîtier 4.The function of the cap is to complete the Faraday cage surrounding the pyrotechnic initiator. There is thus an electrical contact with the metallization which covers the housing 4.

Il a d'autre part pour fonction d'assurer, dans toutes les conditions d'emploi, le maintien de la cohésion du boîtier après l'initiation de la substance pyrotechnique.It also has the function of ensuring, in all conditions of use, maintaining the cohesion of the housing after the initiation of the pyrotechnic substance.

En effet, dans le cas où la pression engendrée lors de l'initiation provoque une fissuration du boîtier 4, le capuchon 28 maintient les différents morceaux du boîtier et empêche leur dispersion dans le système pyrotechnique initié. On accroit ainsi la fiabilité de l'initiateur en assurant dans tous les cas qu'un fragment de boîtier ne viendra pas perturber le fonctionnement du système initié.Indeed, in the case where the pressure generated during initiation causes cracking of the housing 4, the cap 28 holds the different pieces of the housing and prevents their dispersion in the pyrotechnic system initiated. This increases the reliability of the initiator by ensuring in all cases that a fragment of the housing will not disturb the operation of the system initiated.

Une telle disposition est particulièrement utile pour les applications de haute sécurité, par exemple l'initiation des coussins gonflables de sécurité automobile. On est sûr ainsi que des fragments du boîtier ne viendront pas obturer les orifices de gonflage du coussin, nuisant gravement à son efficacité.Such an arrangement is particularly useful for high security applications, for example the initiation of automobile safety airbags. It is thus certain that fragments of the housing will not block the inflation orifices of the cushion, seriously impairing its effectiveness.

Dans le cas où l'initiateur ne comporte pas de fenêtre sur le boîtier mais une zone d'épaisseur réduite sur le bouchon (afin d'assurer un allumage suivant une direction axiale du boîtier), on ne prévoira sur le capuchon qu'une seule ouverture disposée en regard de la zone d'épaisseur réduite du bouchon.In the case where the initiator does not have a window on the housing but an area of reduced thickness on the plug (in order to ensure ignition in an axial direction of the housing), only one cap will be provided opening arranged opposite the zone of reduced thickness of the plug.

A titre de variante il est possible de disposer dans le boîtier une substance pyrotechnique sèche. La compression de la substance dans le logement du boîtier sera effectuée alors sous une pression supérieure (par exemple de l'ordre de 100 à 200 mégapascals). Le bouchon 12 sera comme précédemment maintenu en appui contre la substance pyrotechnique lors de sa fixation par soudure sur la jupe.Alternatively it is possible to place in the housing a dry pyrotechnic substance. The compression of the substance in the housing of the housing will then be carried out under a higher pressure (for example of the order of 100 to 200 megapascals). The plug 12 will, as previously, be kept in abutment against the pyrotechnic substance when it is fixed by welding to the skirt.

Claims (15)

  1. A pyrotechnic igniter (1) comprising a pyrotechnic substance (2) placed inside a housing (3) arranged in a case (4) made of a plastic material and closed by a plug (12) also made of a plastic material, the housing comprising a cylindrical wall (10), igniter characterised in that the wall has at least one window (11) of reduced thickness, forming a single part with the wall, and intended to break when the substance (2) is ignited, the plug comprising a shoulder (12b) and a ring-shaped groove (24) in which one thinned cylindrical end (25) of the case (4) is fitted, play (j) remaining between the shoulder (12b) of the plug and the case (4) so as to enable the plug to be held against the pyrotechnic substance when the plug is being fastened in place.
  2. A pyrotechnic igniter (1) comprising a pyrotechnic substance (2) arranged inside a housing (3) arranged in a case (4) made of a plastic material and closed by a plug (12) also made of a plastic material, the housing comprising a cylindrical wall (10), igniter characterised in that the plug (12) has an area (18) of reduced thickness intended to break when the substance (2) is ignited, and has a shoulder (12b) and a ring-shaped groove (24) in which one thinned cylindrical end (25) of the case is fitted, play (j) remaining between the plug shoulder (12b) and the case (4) so as to enable the plug to be held against the pyrotechnic substance when the plug is being fastened into place.
  3. An igniter according to Claim 2, characterised in that the cylindrical wall (10) has at least one window (11) of reduced thickness forming a single part with said wall and intended to break when the pyrotechnic substance (2) is ignited.
  4. An igniter according to Claim 1, characterised in that the windows (11) are arranged to the outside of the wall (10), the housing having in this case a smooth cylindrical inner surface.
  5. An igniter according to one of Claims 1 or 4, characterised in that the plug (12) has an area (18) of reduced thickness intended to break when the substance (2) is ignited.
  6. An igniter according to one of Claims 1, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that the case (4) is formed of a base (4a) and a skirt (4b) made integral with one another by a joining means, the skirt (4b) carrying the wall in which the windows (11) are made.
  7. An igniter according to Claim 6, characterised in that the skirt (4b) is of a length of between 1.5 and 2.5 times the diametre of the housing (3).
  8. An igniter according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the case (4) is covered by a metallization.
  9. An igniter according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the case (4) is covered by a metallic cap (28) which covers both the plug (12) and the cylindrical wall (10).
  10. An igniter according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it comprises two electrodes (5a, 5b) embedded in the constitutive material of the case (4) and whose ends (6a, 6b) slightly jut out from the base (7) of the housing (3), the length of duplicate moulding of each electrode being between 5 and ten times its diametre.
  11. An igniter according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the plug (12) is fastened to the case (4) by ultrasonic welding.
  12. An igniter according to one of Claims 6 to 11, characterised in that the skirt (4b) and the base (4a) of the case (4) are made integral with one another by ultrasonic welding.
  13. An igniter according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the plastic material making up the case (4) and/or the plug (12) is of the polyamide or polycarbonate type.
  14. An igniter according to Claim 13, characterised in that the plastic material of the case (4) and/or the plug (12) is of the polycarbonate type reinforced with glass fibre.
  15. An igniter according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the pyrotechnic substance (2) is arranged in the case (4) by a wet treatment loading process.
EP93402906A 1992-12-01 1993-12-01 Pyrotechnic electric igniter Expired - Lifetime EP0600791B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9214473 1992-12-01
FR9214473A FR2698687B1 (en) 1992-12-01 1992-12-01 Pyrotechnic initiator.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0600791A1 EP0600791A1 (en) 1994-06-08
EP0600791B1 true EP0600791B1 (en) 1997-02-05

Family

ID=9436110

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93402906A Expired - Lifetime EP0600791B1 (en) 1992-12-01 1993-12-01 Pyrotechnic electric igniter

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US5423261A (en)
EP (1) EP0600791B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE148783T1 (en)
DE (1) DE69308004T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2096891T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2698687B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69308004T2 (en) 1997-06-05
DE69308004D1 (en) 1997-03-20
ATE148783T1 (en) 1997-02-15
FR2698687B1 (en) 1995-02-03
ES2096891T3 (en) 1997-03-16
US5423261A (en) 1995-06-13
EP0600791A1 (en) 1994-06-08
FR2698687A1 (en) 1994-06-03

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