EP0694753A1 - Pyrotechnic device for launching at least one projectile - Google Patents

Abstract

The launcher consists of a launch tube (1) with an open front end (9) and its rear end (6) closed by a transverse base (7), designed to receive a projectile (22) which can slide lengthwise inside the tube and be expelled from its open end. The base (7) forms a gas expansion chamber immediately behind the projectile and in which a gas pressure is generated to launch it. The front end of the tube is closed by a shutter (11, 23) with retainers (16) which release it when the pressure behind it reaches a set level, while a thrust generator (52) develops a gas pressure simultaneously in both front (35) and rear (36) chambers to blow off the shutter and launch the projectile. The thrust generator is situated in or is in communication with the front chamber (35), and the two chambers are linked by a non-return system (30, 32). <IMAGE>

Description

• un tube lanceur longitudinal, présentant une extrémité arrière fermée par un fond transversal et une extrémité avant ouverte,
• un projectile logé dans le tube et susceptible de coulisser longitudinalement à l'intérieur de celui-ci, vers l'avant, pour en être expulsé par l'extrémité avant du tube,
• des moyens pour définir avec le tube et le projectile, immédiatement en arrière de celui-ci, une chambre arrière d'expansion gazeuse,
• un impulseur susceptible de développer, de façon commandée, une pression gazeuse dans la chambre arrière pour provoquer l'expulsion du projectile par l'extrémité avant du tube.

The present invention relates to a pyrotechnic device for launching at least one projectile, of the type comprising:

• a longitudinal launcher tube, having a rear end closed by a transverse bottom and an open front end,
• a projectile housed in the tube and capable of sliding longitudinally inside the latter, towards the front, to be expelled from it by the front end of the tube,
• means for defining with the tube and the projectile, immediately behind the latter, a rear gas expansion chamber,
• an impeller capable of developing, in a controlled manner, a gas pressure in the rear chamber to cause the projectile to be expelled from the front end of the tube.

Launcher devices of this type are well known, in embodiments in which the impeller is housed or opens as directly as possible in the rear chamber, being integrated either at the bottom of the launcher tube, or at the rear of the projectile .

The concepts of front and rear are understood by reference to a predetermined direction of movement of the projectile relative to the tube during firing.

The known arrangement, mentioned above, of the igniter has a certain number of drawbacks which can be combined or presented separately depending on the type of launching device.

One of these drawbacks lies in the fact that the production of a preloaded launching device, comprising the tube and the projectile housed therein but devoid of an igniter, for reasons of safety in handling and storage, is difficult to envisage given that the subsequent installation of the igniter requires, depending on the case, either an extraction then a repositioning of the projectile in the tube, a painful operation and necessarily requiring a relatively long time under conditions of use where speed may be necessary, or a special arrangement of the tube, requiring rework and additional assemblies during the manufacture of the latter and consequently resulting in an additional cost of the device considered as a whole.

Another disadvantage lies in the fact that, when the front end of the tube is provided with a closure plug preventing the projectile from escaping during handling or storage or undesirable substances such as water or dust from entering it, it is generally planned to avoid the user having to extract this plug before firing and, for this purpose, it is the projectile itself which expels the plug when firing, coming into contact with it, which absorbs the expulsion energy of the projectile and can uncontrollably modify its ballistics.

Yet another drawback lies in the great difficulty of placing several projectiles in the tube, mutually juxtaposed longitudinally, for the purpose of successive firing according to a determined sequence. Provision must be made for associating for this purpose with each projectile, immediately behind it, a clean impeller and for connecting all the impellers to common control means establishing the desired sequence between them. It is a complex and expensive assembly.

The object of the present invention is to propose a new design of a launcher device of the type indicated in the preamble, making it possible to remedy, depending on the case, some or all of the aforementioned drawbacks.

• des moyens d'obturation de l'extrémité avant du tube, retenus sur le tube par des moyens de retenue autorisant leur expulsion lorsqu'ils sont soumis à un effort longitudinal dirigé vers l'avant et excédant un seuil prédéterminé,
• des moyens pour définir avec le tube, les moyens d'obturation et le projectile, immédiatement en avant de celui-ci, une chambre avant d'expansion gazeuse,

   et en ce que l'impulseur est susceptible de développer ladite pression gazeuse simultanément dans les chambres avant et arrière, pour appliquer ledit effort aux moyens d'obtruration et les expulser préalablement à l'expulsion du projectile.To this end, the launcher device according to the invention, of the type indicated in the preamble, is characterized in that it comprises:

• means for closing the front end of the tube, retained on the tube by retaining means authorizing their expulsion when they are subjected to a longitudinal force directed towards the front and exceeding a predetermined threshold,
• means for defining, with the tube, the sealing means and the projectile, immediately in front of the latter, a chamber before gas expansion,

and in that the impeller is capable of developing said gas pressure simultaneously in the front and rear chambers, in order to apply said force to the shutter means and expel them prior to the expulsion of the projectile.

Thus, as the gas pressure developed by the impeller increases, simultaneously in the front and rear chambers, while the shutter means are in place, the projectile, offering a cross section of identical surface towards the forward and backward, is under pressure and does not move. The pressure can thus increase in the front and rear chambers until it reaches a value which, at level of the front chamber, results in the application, to the sealing means, of a longitudinal force directed towards the front and exceeding the predetermined threshold for expulsion of the latter; in fact, the latter are also exposed, towards the front, to the atmospheric pressure of the open air. As soon as this threshold is reached, the shutter means are expelled, without any intervention of the projectile for this purpose so that the ballistics thereof will not be affected, but from this expulsion, the atmospheric pressure is established in the front chamber while the rear chamber remains subject to the gas pressure developed by the impeller so that the projectile is now subjected to a longitudinal expulsion force. The projectile is then expelled, under conditions that can be predetermined and without risk of interference with the shutter means.

To ensure the aforementioned simultaneity of the development of the gas pressure, by the impeller, in the front and rear chambers, it can advantageously be provided that the impeller is disposed or opens out in the front chamber, and that means of fluid communication are provided. non-return between the front and rear chambers, said communication being open from the front chamber to the rear chamber and closed from the rear chamber to the front chamber.

In a particularly simple manner, the non-return fluid communication means comprise a longitudinal passage between the projectile and the tube, and a lip seal interposed between the projectile and the tube in this passage, although other arrangements may be chosen. this effect without departing from the scope of the present invention.

It will be noted that when the impeller is thus disposed in the front chamber, it can be easily placed in the tube after the projectile, which makes it possible, without difficulty, to manufacture and store launching devices comprising the tube housing the projectile without the igniter, and to mount the igniter during use, and this quickly and without particular difficulty.

According to an embodiment which is particularly suitable, for this purpose, provision can be made for the sealing means to be constituted by a plug retained by said retaining means and suitably sealed with respect to the tube, which makes it possible to integrate therein. the impeller.

This plug, to which the gas pressure prevailing in the front chamber directly applies, can be inert, that is to say play only a sealing role. It can also itself constitute a front projectile housed in the tube and capable of sliding longitudinally inside the tube, towards the front, to be expelled from it by the front end of the tube prior to the expulsion of the projectile first. cited.

However, it is also possible to provide that the shutter means consist of a plug, in particular inert in the above sense, retained by said retaining means, and by a front projectile housed in the tube, interposed longitudinally between the first mentioned projectile. and the plug and capable of sliding longitudinally inside the tube, towards the front, to be expelled from it by the front end of the tube by expelling the plug prior to the expulsion of the first mentioned projectile. Then, the application of the gas pressure to the plug is carried out by means of the front projectile, suitably sealed with respect to the tube.

In either of these two cases, the gradual, simultaneous increase in the front and rear chambers, of the gas pressure first maintains the first-mentioned projectile in equilibrium, until the plug constituted by the front projectile or the assembly constituted by the front projectile and the plug, respectively, exposed to atmospheric pressure towards the front, receives because of this pressure a longitudinal force, directed towards the front, exceeding the predetermined threshold of ejection of the sealing means. Then, the front projectile forming a plug or the front projectile and the plug, distinct from it but pushed by it, respectively, are expelled, which opens the front chamber to the atmosphere while the rear chamber is still subjected to the gas pressure which caused the front projectile to be expelled. This then results in the expulsion of the first mentioned projectile.

• les masses respectives des projectiles,
• leur section transversale utile, c'est-à-dire exposée respectivement vers l'avant et vers l'arrière à la pression gazeuse ou, selon le cas, à la pression atmosphérique, c'est-à-dire leur calibre,
• la course utile des projectiles dans le canon,
• la pression dans les chambres avant et arrière, correspondant à l'expulsion du bouchon, constituant le cas échéant lui-même l'un des projectiles,
• les volumes respectifs des chambres avant et arrière, généralement caractérisés par la longueur de celles-ci du fait d'une section transversale intérieure généralement constante du tube lanceur.

Projectile exit speeds are defined by the characteristics of the interior ballistics of each projectile, namely:

• the respective masses of the projectiles,
• their useful cross-section, that is to say exposed respectively towards the front and towards the rear to the gas pressure or, as the case may be, to atmospheric pressure, that is to say their caliber,
• the useful travel of the projectiles in the barrel,
• the pressure in the front and rear chambers, corresponding to the expulsion of the plug, constituting if necessary itself one of the projectiles,
• the respective volumes of the front and rear chambers, generally characterized by the length of the latter due to a generally constant interior cross section of the launcher tube.

It is thus possible, without particular difficulty, to carry out by means of the same tube, loaded with two projectiles, a successive firing under predetermined conditions of sequencing and speed of exit of the projectiles.

For this purpose, alternatively or cumulatively, it can also be provided that the means for defining the rear chamber comprise at least one rear projectile housed in the tube, interposed longitudinally between the first cited projectile and the bottom and capable of sliding longitudinally inside. of the tube, towards the front, to be expelled from it by the front end of the tube, that means are provided for defining with the tube and this rear projectile, respectively each rear projectile, immediately behind the latter, another rear gas expansion chamber, and the impeller is capable of developing said gas pressure simultaneously in the front and rear chambers and in said other rear chamber, respectively each other rear chamber, to expel the rear projectile, respectively the rear projectiles successively , after the first cited projectile.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand how, when the gas pressure increases simultaneously in the front chamber, the rear chamber and the other or each other rear chamber, the plug will be expelled, if necessary by constituting a front projectile or by preceding a front projectile, then the first cited projectile, then the rear projectile or each of the rear projectiles in succession, under conditions of time and respective speed determined by the aforementioned characteristics of internal ballistics of each projectile.

When, according to the aforementioned preferred embodiment, the impeller is disposed or opens into the front chamber and there are provided non-return fluid communication means between the front and rear chambers, said communication being open from the front chamber to the rear chamber and closed from the rear chamber to the front chamber, provision is advantageously made for ensuring the simultaneous establishment of the gas pressure in the or each other rear chamber, in comparison with the first-mentioned front chamber and the rear chamber, by providing other means of non-return fluid communication between the first-mentioned rear chamber and said other rear chamber, respectively between each other rear chamber and the other immediately following rear chamber , said communication being open from the first cited rear chamber to said other rear chamber, respectively from each other rear chamber to the immediately following other rear chamber, and closed from said other rear chamber to the first cited rear chamber, respectively from each other rear chamber towards said immediately preceding other rear chamber. In a particularly simple and reliable manner, like the aforementioned non-return fluid communication means, said other non-return fluid communication means may include a longitudinal passage between the rear projectile, respectively each rear projectile, and the tube, and a joint. with lip interposed between the rear projectile, respectively each rear projectile, and the tube in this passage, this embodiment constituting however only one nonlimiting example.

The means for defining the rear chamber may also include only the bottom of the launcher tube, in the absence of rear projectile.

It will be noted that among the characteristics of interior ballistics which control the speed of ejection of each projectile intervenes in particular the length of the gas expansion chamber which is placed immediately behind it, for a constant cross section inside the tube. In this regard, it is advantageously provided that the means for respectively defining the front chamber, the rear chamber, said other rear chamber, each other rear chamber, comprise a respective perforated longitudinal spacer to allow the respective fluid communication, which allows, by a simple choice of spacers of appropriate length, to adjust the different internal ballistics, therefore the sequencing of the shooting and the exit speeds of the different projectiles.

One can also intervene in a predetermined manner for this purpose by providing a pyrotechnic charge of expulsion respectively in the rear chamber, said other rear chamber, one or more of the other rear chambers, said pyrotechnic charge of expulsion being sensitive to the gaseous emission. of the impeller, to add its effects to those of said gas pressure, under the same conditions, on the projectile placed immediately in front as on the projectile (s) possibly placed behind.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand that the fields of application of a launcher device according to the invention can be varied. Indeed, the first mentioned projectile, the front projectile, or each rear projectile can be chosen from a group comprising military projectiles, fireworks projectiles; decoy projectiles, test projectiles, these examples being in no way limiting.

Other characteristics and advantages of a launcher device according to the invention will emerge from the description below, relating to three nonlimiting exemplary embodiments, as well as from the appended drawings which form an integral part of this description.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate three launching devices according to the invention, in section through a longitudinal plane including a longitudinal axis of the launching tube, namely respectively a device with two projectiles including a front projectile, a device with two projectiles including a rear projectile , and a device with three projectiles including two rear projectiles, in addition to the first mentioned projectile.

However, it would also be possible according to the invention to make devices comprising a single projectile, namely the first mentioned projectile, without front projectile or rear projectile, or the first mentioned projectile, a front projectile and at least one rear projectile, being indeed understood that the number of rear projectiles can be chosen at will, and in particular be greater than two, in the presence as in the absence of a front projectile.

The three illustrated devices have many common points which will be described first, with reference to all of Figures 1 to 3 where we find these elements under the same reference numerals.

Each of the devices illustrated comprises a longitudinal launcher tube 1, having a longitudinal axis 2 towards which it is delimited by an inner peripheral face 3 cylindrical of revolution around this axis with a constant diameter, determining the size of the launcher device. In the direction of a distance from the axis 2, the tube 1 is determined by an outer peripheral face also cylindrical of revolution around the axis 2, with a diameter greater than that of the face inner peripheral 3, it being understood that the shape of this outer peripheral face 4 is not critical with regard to the present invention.

The launcher tube 1 thus defined is gas-tight in particular.

Backwards with reference to a predetermined longitudinal firing direction 5, the launcher tube 1 has a rear end 6 permanently closed, in leaktight manner, by a transverse bottom 7 which, when the present invention is implemented and as it is illustrated, can be full and devoid of any impeller or device for initiating such an impeller. In the example illustrated, the bottom 7 has the shape of a transverse washer, of revolution about the axis 5 and having in particular towards the front, that is to say towards the inside of the launcher tube 1, a flat transverse face 8.

On the other hand, towards the front with reference to direction 5, the launcher tube 1 has an open end 9, at which the inner peripheral 3 and outer 4 faces are connected by a transverse edge 10 which is annular, planar, of revolution around axis 2.

However, this front end 9 is sealed off by a removable plug 11 having for example the shape of a transverse washer, of revolution about the axis 2. In the direction of a distance from this axis, the plug 11 is delimited by a cylindrical outer peripheral face 12, of a diameter substantially identical to that of the inner peripheral face 3 of the tube 1 in which the plug 11 is fitted, at the front end 9 of the tube 1, in conditions such that a guide contact with relative longitudinal sliding is established between the faces 12 and 3. The face 12 is hollowed out of an annular groove 13, of revolution around the axis 2, housing an O-ring 14 thus retained on the plug 11 and placed in sealing contact with the inner peripheral face 3 of the tube 1 to seal the plug 11 vis-à-vis the latter, by opposing only a known obstacle to the relative sliding of the plug 11 and the tube 1. In the outer peripheral face 12 of the plug 11, in front of the groove 13, further opens at least one transverse blind hole 15, radial with respect to the axis 2, accommodating a pin 16 also radial with respect to this axis and also passing right through the tube 1, by a suitable bore 17 arranged at immediate proximity to the edge 10. The pin 16, of which preferably several angularly distributed copies are provided around the axis 2 and respectively engaged in blind holes 15 and bores 17 also distributed thus around this axis, works in shearing between the plug 11 and the tube 1, and retains the plug 11 fitted in the tube 1, without possibility of relative movement, as long as the plug 11 is not subjected to a longitudinal force, towards the front, exceeding a predetermined threshold but breaks when the predetermined threshold is reached, to authorize the expulsion of the plug 11 towards the before under the effect of this effort.

• dans sa zone la plus éloignée de l'axe 2, par une face annulaire, plane 18, transversale et de révolution autour de l'axe 2, laquelle face 18 se raccorde à la face périphérique extérieure 12 dans le sens d'un éloignement par rapport à l'axe 2 ;
• dans sa zone la plus proche de l'axe 2 et sécante de celui-ci, par une face 19 également transversale, plane, de révolution autour de l'axe 2, laquelle face 19 présente ainsi la forme d'un disque placé en retrait vers l'avant par rapport à la face 18 à laquelle cette face 19 est raccordée par une face périphérique intérieure 20 cylindrique de révolution autour de l'axe 2 et tournée vers celui-ci.

Forward, that is to say outside the launcher tube 1, the plug 11 is delimited by an unreferenced face whose shape is indifferent with regard to the present invention while towards the rear, c '' i.e. towards the inside of the tube 1, it is delimited:

• in its zone furthest from the axis 2, by an annular, flat face 18, transverse and of revolution around the axis 2, which face 18 is connected to the external peripheral face 12 in the direction of a distance by relative to axis 2;
• in its zone closest to axis 2 and intersecting it, by a face 19 also transverse, plane, of revolution around axis 2, which face 19 thus has the shape of a disc placed in withdrawal forwardly with respect to the face 18 to which this face 19 is connected by an inner peripheral face 20 of cylindrical revolution about the axis 2 and turned towards the latter.

The plug 11, when it is thus fitted inside the tube 1, defines therewith a gas-tight enclosure 21.

Inside this enclosure 21 is housed, with relative longitudinal sliding guide, however without the possibility of transverse movement, a projectile 22 which is found identically in FIGS. 1 to 3 and which may be the only projectile of the device launcher, in a manner not illustrated but easily deductible, by a person skilled in the art, from the illustrated arrangements, or else be juxtaposed longitudinally to at least one other projectile also housed inside the sealed enclosure 21, on the basis of a projectile front 23 of different external conformation, as shown in FIG. 1, and / or of at least one rear projectile 24 meanwhile of similar external conformation, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 where there is respectively a single projectile rear or two rear projectiles, it being understood that this number of rear projectiles could be chosen at will, on the one hand, and that the projectiles 22, 23, 24 may be of the same nature or of different natures, freely chosen as a function of a desired effect, on the other hand. In all cases, the single projectile 22 or the assembly formed by the projectile 22, the front projectile 23 and / or the rear projectile 24 possibly provided in several copies is calibrated longitudinally, against any longitudinal movement at the inside the tube 1 as long as the plug 11 is fitted therein and retained by the pins 16, between the face 8 of the bottom 7 and the face 18 of the plug 11, just as any relative transverse movement is avoided.

In the nonlimiting exemplary embodiment which has been illustrated, the projectile 22 is defined respectively towards the front and towards the rear by transverse, flat faces 25, 26 in the form of a disc, which are connected in the direction of 'a distance with respect to the axis 2, to an outer peripheral face 27 cylindrical of revolution around this axis 2.

The outer peripheral face 27 has a diameter less than that of the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1, but wedges integral with the outer peripheral face 27 of the projectile 22 and regularly distributed angularly around the axis 2, on the one hand close to the front face 25 as illustrated in 28 and on the other hand close to the rear face 26 as illustrated in 29, ensure coaxiality of the projectile 22 and the launcher tube 1 without oppose relative longitudinal sliding when the plug 11 has been expelled. This results in the presence, between the faces 27 and 3, of a clearance 30 which, together with an embodiment of the shims 28 and 29 in a discontinuous form in the circumferential direction, allows a passage of gas between the faces 27 and 3, in particular from front to rear, that is to say from the immediate proximity of the front face 25 to the immediate proximity of the face 26.

In a longitudinally localized area of the outer peripheral face 27, for example in the immediate vicinity of the rear face 26, between the latter and the shims 29 is arranged in the face 27 an annular groove 31 of revolution around the axis 2. In this groove 31 fits, in an integral manner with the projectile 22, an annular seal 32 having a general shape of revolution around the axis 2 and comprising two lips defining a U or a V open towards the rear and closed towards the front, when this joint 32 is seen in section through any plane including the axis 2, at the rate of a lip 33 housed in the groove 31 in conditions suitable for securing to the projectile 22 and a lip 34 bearing elastically on the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1, without constituting an obstacle sensitive to the possibility of relative longitudinal sliding, so as to create a sealing between the gasket 32 and the launcher tube 1 against a gas passage in a direction going from the rear towards the front, that is to say from the rear face 26 towards the front face 25 , by means of clearance 30, while allowing gas to pass, by means of clearance 30, in a direction going from front to rear, that is to say from the front face 25 towards the rear 26.

Other means could be provided for this purpose, either through the projectile 22, or between the inner 3 and outer 4 peripheral faces of the launcher tube 1, insofar as, as will appear later, this possibility of gas passage from the face 25 of the projectile 22 to the face 26 of the latter is of importance only in an initial phase of the shooting, in which the projectile 22 occupies inside the launching tube 1 the same longitudinal position, perfectly determined, that when the launcher device is in the charged state, before use.

This ensures, in particular in this state of the launcher device, a non-return communication between two chambers 35, 36 delimited in a sealed manner by the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1, respectively with the front face 25 of the projectile 22, immediately in before it, and with the rear face 26 of this projectile 22, immediately behind it.

The sealed chambers 35 and 36 are moreover delimited by means which differ according to embodiments of the launcher device illustrated respectively in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, which will now be described successively.

In the case of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the rear chamber 36 is delimited, in addition by the rear face 26 of the projectile 22 and the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1, by the face 8 of the bottom 7 thereof. this. To this end, a longitudinal spacer 37 is inserted longitudinally between the faces 26 and 8, having the general shape of a tubular wall, of revolution about the axis 2, and provided with large openings 38 allowing fluid communication between the chambers 35 and 36 through game 30. Respectively in the direction of a distance and in the direction of approximation with respect to the axis 2, the wall forming the spacer 37 is delimited by a peripheral face, respectively external 39 or internal 40, cylindrical of revolution around the axis 2 with a smaller diameter to the respective diameters of the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1 and of the outer peripheral face 27 of the projectile 22 and, upwards, these two faces 39 and 40 are connected to each other by an annular edge 41, transverse, of revolution around the axis 2 and serving as a flat support, towards the rear, to the face 26 of the projectile 22; towards the rear, the two faces 39 and 40 are connected to each other by another edge 42 also annular, transverse, of revolution about the axis 2, which edge 42 rests flat on the face 8 of the bottom 7.

The coaxiality of the spacer 37 with respect to the launcher tube 1 and the projectile 22 can be ensured by various means, in particular by securing with the projectile 22 or with the bottom 7, a transverse setting relative to the peripheral face interior 3 of the launcher tube 1, a longitudinal interlocking on or in a suitable counterpart of the projectile face 26, in a manner not illustrated but easily conceivable by a person skilled in the art, or even by longitudinal interlocking on or in a suitable counterpart of the face 8 of the bottom 7, in particular by longitudinal interlocking on a localized protuberance 43 of the face 8 of the bottom 7 as illustrated, which corresponds to a particularly simple shape of the spacer 37 and to a particularly great ease of placing in place of the latter inside the launcher tube 1 before placing the projectile 22 there.

The front chamber 35 is itself delimited, in addition by the front face 25 of the projectile 22 and the inner peripheral face 3 of the launching tube 1, by the front projectile 23 and more precisely by a transverse, planar face 51 which the latter presents towards the back.

For this purpose is interposed longitudinally between the face 51 of the front projectile 23 and the face 25 of the projectile 22 a longitudinal spacer 44 at all points similar to the spacer 37 and having in particular like the latter large openings 45 not impeding the passage gas. This spacer 44 is supported flat respectively against one and the other of the faces 25 and 51 by virtue of an outer diameter smaller than that of the latter and is retained in the coaxial position, relative to the projectiles 22 and 23 and relative to the launcher tube 1, by one any of the means mentioned with regard to the spacer 37, and for example by longitudinal interlocking on a localized protuberance 46 of the face 25 of the projectile 22, which results in the same simplicity of manufacture of the spacer 44 and the same ease of fitting in place of the latter after the projectile 22 and before the projectile 23, inside the launcher tube 1.

Longitudinally opposite its face 51, that is to say towards the front, the projectile 23 is delimited by another transverse, flat face 47 which, due to an appropriate longitudinal dimensioning of the two projectiles 22 and 23 and the two spacers 37 and 44, compared to the distance separating the face 18 of the plug 11 longitudinally from the face 8 of the base 7, is applied flat against the face 18 of the plug 11 when the latter occupies the position d 'fitting into the tube 1 and retention by the pins 16, illustrated in Figure 1. In the direction of a distance from the axis 2, the faces 51 and 47 are connected to an outer peripheral face 48 of the projectile 23, which mutually connects these faces 44 and 47 and has a cylindrical shape of revolution around the axis 2, with a diameter corresponding substantially to that of the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1, which provides guidance for relative sliding lon gitudinal. Longitudinally localized, for example near the face 51, the face 48 is hollowed out with an annular groove 49 of revolution around the axis 2 and housing an O-ring 50 ensuring a sealing of the outer peripheral face 48 of the projectile 23 vis-à-vis the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1 without constituting a sensitive obstacle to relative longitudinal sliding.

It is noted that the assembly formed by the front 35 and rear 36 chambers, as well as by the clearance 30 between the projectile 22 and the launcher tube 1, defines a sealed volume thanks to the presence of the seal 50, with the possibility of gas circulation. from chamber 35 to chamber 36 via clearance 30, without the possibility of passing in the opposite direction.

This characteristic is used, in this embodiment of the present invention, to cause a sequential expulsion of the projectile 23 and of the projectile 22, by means of gases generated in a controlled manner, in the front chamber 35, by an impeller 52 housed therein, as illustrated, or placed outside it but opening into it, in a manner not illustrated but easily conceivable by a Tradesman. This impeller 22 is advantageously placed coaxially, inside the spacer 44, and it is preferably secured to one or the other of the projectiles 22 (as illustrated) and 23 or also to the spacer 44 , by any appropriate means the choice of which falls within the normal abilities of a person skilled in the art.

Such a person skilled in the art will easily deduce, from the description above, the operation of the launcher device illustrated in FIG. 1. This being supposed to be presented initially in the form illustrated in FIG. 1, that is to say with the plug 11 fitted into the launcher tube 1 and retained by the pins 16, immobilizing longitudinally in the tube 1 the two projectiles 22 and 23 and the two spacers 37 and 44, the actuation of the impeller 52, controlled from l the outside of the launcher tube 1 by any suitable means, namely by a wired connection through any of the components of the device or also by a wireless connection, causes significant gas evolution in the front chamber 35 and this gas evolution takes place propagates almost instantaneously, with the same evolution of the gas pressure, towards the chamber 36 by the clearance 30, the seal 32 allowing passage in this direction. The projectile 22 is then placed in equipression but the assembly formed by the projectile 23 and the plug 11, exposed to atmospheric pressure in particular towards the front, is subjected to a thrust in the direction 5. When this thrust, due of the increase in the gas pressure in the chambers 35 and 36, comes to exceed the shearing force of the pins 16, these break and suddenly release the plug 11, which is expelled forward via of the projectile 23 itself expelled forward. The projectile 22 is then exposed, towards the front, to atmospheric pressure whereas, due to the presence of the seal 32 which prevents the gases under pressure from escaping from the chamber 36, it remains subjected to the gaseous pressure rear. This results in the application, to the projectile 22, of a forward expulsion force, and the projectile 22 is in turn expelled from the launcher tube 1.

The characteristics of this expulsion, namely in particular its sequencing and the respective speeds of the projectiles 22 and 23, can be controlled by influence on the parameters indicated above, namely in the easiest way by choosing the respective longitudinal dimensions of the spacers 37 and 44, determining the respective volumes of the rear chambers 36 and front 35.

It will be noted that the successive expulsion of the projectiles 22 and 23 would be carried out under the same conditions if, according to a variant not shown but easily deducible from the description above by a person skilled in the art, the projectile 23 and the plug 11 formed a single piece, that is to say if the projectile 23 itself constituted the plug 11 for closing the launcher tube 1 and was retained by the pins 16 directly.

In the case of another variant also not shown, but easily deducible from the above description, one could not provide a projectile 23 in front of the projectile 22 which, then, would take support forward, only by the intermediate the spacer 44, on the plug 11 when the latter would be fitted and retained by the pins 16 inside the launcher tube 1; the front chamber 35 housing the impeller 52 would then be delimited by the face 25 of the projectile 22, the faces 18, 19, 20 of the plug 11 and the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1 and the impeller could be fixed to the plug 11, either during the manufacture of the launcher device, or on demand when using it. The operation of this variant would be identical to that of the device described with reference to FIG. 1, except that the first expulsion would not be that of a projectile 23 jointly with the plug 11, but from the plug 11 alone.

This variant can also be easily deduced from the description, and which will now be made, of the launcher device illustrated in FIG. 2.

In this device, specifically, the delimitation of the chamber 35 immediately in front of the projectile 22, which is found identically, is ensured by the face 25 of the latter, the outer peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1, and the faces 18, 19, 20 of the plug 11 of which, for example, the corresponding spacer 44, which is found identically, can be made integral, for example by localized embedding as illustrated. The front chamber 35 also houses in this case the controlled impeller 52, which can then be either fixed to the projectile 22 or to the spacer 44, as illustrated in solid lines, or integrated into the plug 52, as shown in FIG. 'illustrated in phantom, during the manufacture of the launcher device or by insertion into the plug 52, suitably arranged for this purpose in a manner easily conceivable by a skilled person, immediately before the use of the device; it communicates, via the clearance 30, with the rear chamber 36 with the possibility of gas passage from the chamber 35 towards chamber 36 without possibility of passage in the opposite direction due to the presence of the lip seal 32.

In the case of this embodiment, the chamber 36 remains delimited by the face 26 of the projectile 22 and the external peripheral face 3 of the tube 1, but it is moreover not delimited by the face 8 of the bottom 7 of the launcher tube 1 , but by the rear projectile 24 on which the projectile 22 is supported, by its face 26, by means of the spacer 37 and which itself is supported on the face 8 of the bottom 7 by a longitudinal spacer 53 in all point similar to the spacer 37 and having in particular wide openings 54 at all points comparable to the wide openings 38 of the spacer 37, in order to allow an unhindered passage of gas.

The projectile 24 is itself at all points similar to the projectile 22 as regards its external conformation and, in particular, is delimited by front faces 55, rear 56 and external peripheral 57 at all points similar to the faces 25, 26, 27 of the projectile 22, respectively, except that the diameter of these faces may be slightly different from that of the faces 25, 26 and 27 and that the longitudinal dimension of the projectile 24 between its faces 55 and 56 may be different from the dimension of the projectile 22 between its faces 25 and 26, the projectiles 22 and 24 can also be both of a different nature and of an identical nature.

With a view to centering the spacer 37, the front face 55 of the projectile 24 advantageously comprises a protuberance 58 at any point similar to the protuberance 46 of the front face 25 of the projectile 22 while the face 56 may be strictly planar, perpendicular to axis 2, and rest flat on the spacer 54 resting itself flat on the face 8 of the bottom 7, on which it is centered by the protuberance 43.

Like the outer peripheral face 27 of the projectile 22, the outer peripheral face 57 of the projectile 24 defines an annular clearance 59 with the inner peripheral face 3 of the launcher tube 1, and it is wedged transversely relative to this inner peripheral face 3 by shims 30, 61 at all points similar to wedges 28 and 29, respectively, so that the projectile 24 is guided in longitudinal sliding inside the tube 1 while being wedged transversely, on the one hand, and that the game 59 constitutes a gas passage between the chamber 36 and a chamber which the spacer 53 preserves behind the projectile 24, and which is more precisely defined by the rear face 56 of the latter, the face 8 of the bottom 7 and the zone of the inner peripheral face 3 of the tube 1 situated between these faces 56 and 8 due to the presence of the spacer 53.

However, a lip seal 63, similar in all points to the lip seal 32, oriented like it and retained like it in a transverse annular groove 64 arranged in the outer peripheral face 57 of the projectile 24 between the shims 61 closest to the face 56 and this face 56, authorizes a passage of gases only from chamber 36 to chamber 62, and on the other hand prohibits any passage in return from chamber 62 towards chamber 36.

Naturally, as has been said with regard to the launcher device illustrated in FIG. 1, the means allowing gas to pass from chamber 35 to chamber 36 and from chamber 36 to chamber 62, without the possibility of passage in the opposite direction, could be different without departing from the scope of the present invention.

A person skilled in the art will easily understand that the launcher device illustrated in FIG. 2 operates as follows, this device initially presenting itself in the illustrated state, in which the projectiles 22 and 24 and the spacers 44, 37, 53 are immobilized longitudinally , inside the sealed enclosure 21, by the plug 11 retained by the shear pins 16.

When the impeller 52 is actuated, the latter causes a gaseous release which propagates from chamber 35 towards chamber 36, and from the latter towards chamber 62, which places the interior of enclosure 21 at uniform pressure, and in particular places the projectiles 22 and 24 in equilibrium, which does not subject them to any longitudinal force tending to expel them.

On the other hand, such a force applies to the plug 11 and, when the gas pressure in the enclosure 21 reaches a value such that this force exceeds the predetermined threshold for breaking the pins 16, the latter break and release the plug 11 which is expelled longitudinally forward.

The chamber 35 is thus placed at atmospheric pressure, to which the face 25 of the projectile 22 is therefore exposed, while the face 26 of the latter remains exposed to the aforementioned gas pressure, the gas being unable to escape towards the front due to the presence of the gasket 32.

The chambers 36 and 62 then remain at the same pressure, so that the projectile 24 is not subjected to any longitudinal expulsion force, but the projectile 22, subjected to such a force, is expelled.

Then, the chamber 36 opens to the open air, so that the face 55 of the projectile 24 is exposed to atmospheric pressure, while the aforementioned gas pressure still prevails in the chamber 62, the gas being unable to escape from it. escape due to the presence and shape of the seal 63.

The projectile 24 is therefore therefore also subjected to a longitudinal expulsion force, and fired in turn.

The parameters of this expulsion are those indicated in the preamble. In particular, the conditions for successive firing of the projectiles 22 and 24 can be influenced by the choice of an appropriate longitudinal dimensioning of the spacers 37, 44, 53 determining the respective volumes of the chambers 36, 35, 62.

Naturally, if a projectile similar to the projectile 23 was interposed between the projectile 22 and the plug 11, under conditions identical to those which have been described in FIG. 1, or again formed the plug 11, it would be expelled simultaneously with the plug 11 in the sequence which has just been described.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand that the number of projectiles which can thus be fired, in controlled succession, from the same launching tube 1 can be chosen freely and, only by way of illustration of this possibility, without character limiting, FIG. 3 illustrates a launcher device in every point similar to that of FIG. 2, except that a second projectile 24, analogous to the aforementioned projectile 24 as regards its external conformation but of identical or different nature, is interposed between the spacer 53 placed immediately behind it and the face 8 of the bottom 7, against which this other projectile 24 is supported by means of another spacer 53, largely perforated as indicated at 54, so as to define with the launcher tube 1 and the bottom 7 another sealed chamber 62. The seal 63 of the other projectile 24 makes it possible to place this other chamber 62 at the same gas pressure as the chamber 62 firstly t cited and that the chambers 36 and 35 when the gas pressure supplied by the impeller 52 increases, while it prevents this other chamber 62 from losing this gas pressure, and therefore causes the application to the other projectile 24 of a longitudinal force of expulsion, towards the front, when the front face 55 of this other projectile is exposed to atmospheric pressure, after successive expulsion of the plug 11, of a possible projectile 23, of the projectile 22 and of the projectile 24 first mentioned.

It will be observed that in each of the three embodiments of the invention which have just been described, the gases generated by the single impeller 52 serve to successively expel all the projectiles. In a variant, provision could be made to superimpose on their action, for this purpose, the action of a pyrotechnic expulsion charge 65 disposed respectively in the chamber 36 (FIGS. 1 to 3), and / or in the chamber 62 ( Figure 2) or in one or more of the chambers 62 (Figure 3). This charge, a few non-limiting examples of positioning of which have been illustrated in dashed lines, would be chosen to be of a type such that it is sensitive to the gaseous emission of the impeller 52, for example the temperature of the gases emitted by this last or at the gas pressure corresponding to the effort of expelling the plug 11, and suitably delayed to add its effects to those of the pressure of the gases generated by the impeller 52 on the projectile 22 or 24 placed immediately in front, during of its expulsion, and on the projectile (s) 24 possibly placed behind for their subsequent expulsion.

A person skilled in the art will readily understand that the three illustrated launching devices constitute only nonlimiting examples of implementation of the invention, with respect to which many variants can be provided without thereby departing from the scope thereof.

Claims (14)

Pyrotechnic device for launching at least one projectile, of the type comprising: - a longitudinal launcher tube (1), having a rear end (6) closed by a transverse bottom (7) and a front end (9) open, - a projectile (22) housed in the tube (1) and capable of sliding longitudinally inside thereof, towards the front, to be expelled from it by the front end (9) of the tube (1), means (7, 24, 32, 37, 53, 63) for defining, with the tube (1) and the projectile (22), immediately behind the latter, a rear chamber (36) for gaseous expansion, - an impeller (52) capable of developing, in a controlled manner, a gas pressure in the rear chamber (36) to cause the expulsion of the projectile (22) by the front end (9) of the tube (1),
characterized in that it comprises: - Means (11, 23) for closing the front end (9) of the tube (1), retained on the tube (1) by retaining means (16) authorizing their expulsion when they are subjected to a longitudinal force directed forward and exceeding a predetermined threshold, - means (11, 23, 44) for defining, with the tube (1), the shutter means (11, 23) and the projectile (22), immediately in front of the latter (35), a front chamber gas expansion, and in that the impeller (52) is capable of developing said gas pressure simultaneously in the front (35) and rear (36) chambers, in order to apply said force to the shutter means (11) and expel them prior to expulsion of the projectile (22). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the impeller (52) is disposed or opens out in the front chamber (35) and in that means (30, 32) of non-return fluid communication between the front chambers are provided (35) and rear (36), said communication being open from the front chamber (35) to the rear chamber (36) and closed from the rear chamber (36) to the front chamber (36). Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the non-return fluid communication means (30, 32) comprise a longitudinal passage (30) between the projectile (22) and the tube (1), and a lip seal (32 ) interposed between the projectile (22) and the tube (1) in this passage (30). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sealing means (11, 23) consist of a plug (11) retained by said retaining means and sealed against the tube ( 1). Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the impeller (52) is integrated into the plug (11). Device according to either of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the plug (11) constitutes a front projectile (23) housed in the tube (1) and capable of sliding longitudinally inside the tube (1), forward, to be expelled from it by the front end (9) of the tube (1) prior to the expulsion of the first mentioned projectile (22). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the closure means (11, 23) consist of a plug (11) retained by said retention means (16) and by a front projectile (23 ) housed in the tube (1), longitudinally interposed between the first mentioned projectile (22) and the plug (11) sealed against the tube (1) and capable of sliding longitudinally inside the tube (1) , forwards, to be expelled from it by the front end (9) of the tube (1) by expelling the plug (11) prior to the expulsion of the first mentioned projectile (22). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the means (7, 24, 32, 37, 53, 63) for defining the rear chamber (36) comprise the bottom (7) of the launcher tube (1 ). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the means (7, 24, 32, 37, 53, 63) for defining the rear chamber (36) comprise at least one rear projectile (24) housed in the tube (1), longitudinally interposed between the first mentioned projectile (22) and the bottom (7) and capable of sliding longitudinally inside the tube (1), towards the front, to be expelled from the end front (9) of the tube (1), in that means (7, 53, 63) are provided for defining with the tube (1) and this rear projectile (4), respectively each rear projectile (24), immediately in rear of the latter, another rear chamber (62) for gas expansion, and in that the impeller (52) is capable of developing said gas pressure simultaneously in the front and rear chambers (35, 36) and in said other rear chamber (62), respectively each other chamber rear (62), to expel the rear projectile (24), respectively the rear projectiles (24) successively, after the projectile (22) first mentioned. Device according to claim 9, in its dependence on claim 2, characterized in that other means (59, 63) are provided for non-return fluid communication between the rear chamber (36) mentioned above and said other rear chamber (62), respectively between each other rear chamber (62) and the immediately following other rear chamber (62), said communication being open from the first mentioned rear chamber (36) to said other rear chamber (62) , respectively from each other rear chamber (62) to the other immediately next rear chamber (62), and closed from said other rear chamber (62) to the first mentioned rear chamber (36), respectively from each other rear chamber (62 ) to said immediately preceding other rear chamber (62). Device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the said other non-return fluid communication means (59, 63) comprise a longitudinal passage (59) between the rear projectile (24), each rear projectile (24) respectively, and the tube (1), and a lip seal (63) interposed between the rear projectile (24), respectively each rear projectile (24), and the tube (1) in this passage (59). Device according to any one of claims 3 and 11, characterized in that the means for defining respectively the front chamber (35), the rear chamber (36), said other rear chamber (62), each other rear chamber (62) , have respective perforated longitudinal struts (44, 37, 53) to allow the respective fluid communication. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises a pyrotechnic expulsion charge (65) respectively in the rear chamber (36), said other rear chamber (62), one or more of the others rear chambers (62), said pyrotechnic expelling charge (65) being sensitive to the gaseous emission of the impeller (52) in order to add its effects to those of said gaseous pressure on the projectile (22, 24) placed immediately in front and on the projectile (s) (24) possibly placed behind. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the first mentioned projectile (22), the front projectile (23), the rear projectile (24), each rear projectile (24), is chosen from a group comprising military projectiles, fireworks projectiles, decoy projectiles, test projectiles.

Images