EP0988503B1 - Detonator to be installed in a chamber and safety container comprising it - Google Patents

Abstract

A detonator is intended to be installed in a chamber equipped with a blockable access opening. The detonator includes a member for initiating a pyrotechnic chain and a casing for confining the initiation member. The casing includes, facing the initiation member, a port for igniting a pyrotechnic charge placed in the chamber outside the casing. The detonator also includes a shutter for blocking the port which can be moved between a retracted position clear of the port and a position for blocking the port. A device for operating the shutter keeps the shutter in the retracted position when access to the chamber is blocked, and in the blocking position when access to the chamber is open.

Description

The present invention relates to a detonator intended to be installed in an enclosure provided with a closable access opening, of the type comprising a pyrotechnic chain initiator.

The invention further relates to a security container of the type comprising an enclosure provided with a closable access opening and, disposed in said enclosure, a pyrotechnic charge associated in a pyrotechnic chain with a triggering detonator also disposed in said enclosure.

Such a safety container is described, for example, in the document EP-A-0.188.155.

In this document, the container is intended for the transport of securities, including banknotes.

The pyrotechnic charge is formed by a detonating cord cutting which is initiated by a detonator. The cutting line and the load are both arranged inside the container lid.

The presence of detonating pyrotechnic means is a source of significant risks for the user of the container.

In particular, when access to the container is open, a trigger accident of the detonator causes the charge to ignite pyrotechnics which can then cause serious injuries to people around the open container.

Furthermore, DE-A-41 37 346 describes a detonator as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

The invention aims to provide a solution to this problem safety, avoiding the risk of injury for those in charge handling of the values contained in safety containers provided with pyrotechnic means.

To this end, the invention relates to a detonator intended to be used in an enclosure provided with a closable access opening, of the type aforementioned, characterized in that it comprises a containment box for said member initiation, which housing comprises opposite said initiation member a light for lighting a pyrotechnic charge placed in said enclosure outside said housing, in that it comprises a shutter of said light movable between a retracted position released from said light and a shutter position of this light, and in that it comprises means for controlling said flap adapted for maintaining it in its retracted position, when access to said enclosure is closed, and maintaining it in its closed position, when access to said enclosure is open.

• il comporte un ressort sollicitant ledit volet dans sa position d'obturation de ladite lumière et lesdits moyens de commande comportent un poussoir adapté pour dégager ledit volet lors de l'obturation dudit accès ;
• ledit poussoir porte au moins partiellement la charge pyrotechnique, et une partie de la charge pyrotechnique est déplaçable par rapport au boítier pour se substituer au volet d'obturation en regard de ladite lumière ;
• il comporte un relais d'initiation pyrotechnique entre ladite lumière et ledit organe d'initiation ; et
• lesdits moyens de commande comportent un actionneur, notamment un électro-aimant, pour le déplacement dudit volet, lequel actionneur est relié à une unité de pilotage comportant des moyens de détection de l'ouverture dudit accès à l'enceinte.

According to particular embodiments, the detonator may include one or more of the following characteristics:

• it comprises a spring urging said flap in its position for closing said light and said control means comprise a pusher adapted to release said flap when closing said access;
• said pusher at least partially carries the pyrotechnic charge, and a portion of the pyrotechnic charge is movable relative to the housing to replace the shutter facing said light;
• it comprises a pyrotechnic initiation relay between said light and said initiation member; and
• said control means comprise an actuator, in particular an electromagnet, for the movement of said flap, which actuator is connected to a control unit comprising means for detecting the opening of said access to the enclosure.

The invention further relates to a security container of the aforementioned type characterized in that said detonator is a detonator such that previously defined.

• il comporte des moyens de verrouillage de l'accès et l'organe d'initiation de chaíne pyrotechnique est relié à un circuit électrique de pilotage par l'intermédiaire d'un commutateur commandant la connexion sélective dudit organe d'initiation audit circuit électrique de pilotage, et il comporte des moyens mécaniques de commande dudit commutateur afin d'assurer la connexion dudit organe d'initiation pyrotechnique lorsque ledit accès est verrouillé et assurer la déconnexion dudit organe d'initiation pyrotechnique lorsque ledit accès est déverrouillé ;
• il comporte deux demi-coquilles articulées formant une valise et un détonateur logé dans ladite valise, et ledit boítier du détonateur est fixé sur une première demi-coquille, le poussoir étant fixé sur la seconde demi-coquille en regard dudit boítier ; et
• l'ouverture d'accès comporte une porte et ladite enceinte forme un coffre-fort, lesdits moyens de détection comportant des capteurs d'ouverture de ladite porte.

According to one of the particular embodiments, the container includes one or more of the following characteristics:

• it includes means for locking the access and the initiation unit of the pyrotechnic chain is connected to an electrical control circuit by means of a switch controlling the selective connection of said initiation member to said electrical control circuit , and it comprises mechanical means for controlling said switch in order to ensure the connection of said pyrotechnic initiation member when said access is locked and ensure the disconnection of said pyrotechnic initiation member when said access is unlocked;
• it comprises two articulated half-shells forming a suitcase and a detonator housed in said suitcase, and said case of the detonator is fixed on a first half-shell, the pusher being fixed on the second half-shell opposite said case; and
• the access opening comprises a door and said enclosure forms a safe, said detection means comprising sensors for opening said door.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une valise de sécurité ouverte selon l'invention ;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues en perspective à plus grande échelle des deux parties du détonateur de la valise de la figure 1 ; et
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective partiellement schématique d'un détonateur selon l'invention destiné à un coffre-fort.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an open safety suitcase according to the invention;
• Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views on a larger scale of the two parts of the detonator of the bag of Figure 1; and
• Figure 4 is a partially schematic perspective view of a detonator according to the invention intended for a safe.

The suitcase 10 shown in Figure 1 has two half-shells 12 and 14 articulated one on the other.

This suitcase forms a safety container delimiting an enclosure 16 for the receipt of valuables such as banknotes bank, computer data carriers or electronic components.

The enclosure 16 is provided with an opening in its upper part. This access opening can be closed by the upper half-shell 14 forming a cover.

Over the entire length of the inner face of the cover 14 is fixed a pyrotechnic charge 18 formed by a detonating cutting cord. This pyrotechnic charge is adapted to destroy at least partially the values contained in the container in the event of an attempt to violation of it. This pyrotechnic charge is advantageously associated to means for projecting ink onto the values contained in the suitcase. These projection means are for example formed by tanks frangible wall ink.

The cord 18 is connected to a detonator 20 suitable for triggering of the pyrotechnic charge.

This detonator comprises a first part denoted 22, fixed on the lower half-shell 12 of the suitcase, and a second part noted 24, fixed on the cover 14 opposite the first part 22.

These first and second parts are shown respectively in Figures 2 and 3.

The first part 22 is electrically connected to a unit of control not shown, itself connected to detection sensors an attempt to break into the suitcase. These sensors are, for example, opening sensors or displacement sensors.

As shown in Figure 2, the first part 22 of the detonator comprises a containment box 26 in which is disposed a member 28 for initiating an electrically controllable pyrotechnic chain.

The housing 26 is produced by assembling two half-shells symmetrical denoted 26A, 26B, formed in metal blocks machined solid masses. This housing has outwardly substantially the shape of a parallelepiped rectangle.

It has a notch 30 formed in the center of an intersecting edge in the median longitudinal plane according to which the two half-shells 26A, 26B are coupled. A light 32 is provided opposite said member initiation 28. It leads to a face 30A of the notch 30.

Advantageously, the initiation member 28 has a shape which is substantially cylindrical and is arranged in an extended cylindrical conduit 34 by light 32.

The other end of the duct 34 is extended by an opening 35 intended for the passage of conductors from the control unit.

A flap 36 formed by a metal cube is mounted movable sliding in a blind conduit 38 of square section extending perpendicular to the axis of the initiating member 28. The conduit 38 opens only on the second main face noted 30 B of the notch. The conduits 34 and 38 extend perpendicular to each other.

In the direction perpendicular to the axis of the conduits 34 and 38, the flap 36 has a length slightly greater than the width of the notch 30. In addition, the conduit 38 is interrupted at a distance D from the upper face of the detonator, so that the flap 36 is trapped in inside the duct 38.

The flap 36 is movable from a closed position of the light 32 (position shown in Figure 2) to a retracted position in the blind part of the conduit 38 in which the opening 32 is clear. In the closed position, the flap 36 is in contact with the face 30A from the notch.

A helical spring 40 is disposed in the conduit 38. It is kept bandaged between the bottom of the blind conduit and the flap 36 and requests this last towards its closed position.

The second part 24 of the detonator forms a pusher intended to actuate the flap 36 and more precisely to retract it inside of conduit 38.

The pusher 24 includes a bracket 42 for fixing on a side wall of the cover 14 of the suitcase. At the end of this square is fixed a V 44 profile intended to support part of the pyrotechnic charge 18.

For this purpose, a tube 46 of slightly larger internal diameter the outside diameter of the cord 18 is welded in the delimited angle by profile 44.

The cord 18 passes right through the tube 46 and one end, denoted 48, cord 18 protrudes at one end of the tube 46.

As shown in Figure 1, the pusher 24 is fixed on the inner face of a side wall of the cover 14 while the body 22 of the detonator is attached to the pusher on the inside of the wall corresponding to the lower half-shell 12 of the suitcase.

When the case is open, as shown in the figure 1, the flap 36, biased by the spring 40 is held in the closed position of light 32. Thus, any accidental triggering of the initiating organ is without harmful consequence for the persons being in the vicinity of the suitcase, since the explosion is then confined inside housing 26.

On the other hand, when the cover 14 of the suitcase is closed, the pusher 24, and in particular the underside of the profile 44 pushes in the flap shutter 36 in the blind part of the conduit 38.

Thus, the end 48 of the cutting cord occupies the place of the shutter 36 immediately opposite the light 32. The end 48 is then aligned with the initiating member 28.

If one of the sensors detects an attempted break-in on the suitcase, the initiation of the initiating organ 28 causes the ignition cutting cord 18 which then destroys the values contained inside of the suitcase.

To further improve safety when opening the case, the latter comprises means for opening the supply circuit of the initiating body of the pyrotechnic chain during unlocking of the suitcase.

In particular, the suitcase includes, for its locking, a motor-lock connected to a piloting device for locking control and unlocking the suitcase. In order to prohibit the feeding of the pyrotechnic initiation unit when the suitcase is unlocked, the keeper of the motor-lock is associated with a push button arranged on the circuit feeding the initiating organ. When the keeper is in the position of lock, this pushes the push button so that the power supply of the initiating organ is possible. When the strike of the motor-lock is in unlocking position of the case, the push button is released, so that the feed circuit of the initiator is open.

We can thus understand that, when the suitcase is unlocked, the initiating organ cannot be supplied so that the ignition of the pyrotechnic chain is impossible.

In Figure 4 is shown, in perspective, a detonator according to the invention adapted to be implemented in a safe provided of a door.

In this embodiment, the detonator is formed as previously of two massive half-shells machined and joined. The containment box 50 thus formed has a light 52 aligned with an initiator 54 housed inside the confinement box.

A pyrotechnic initiation relay 56 is arranged between the member initiation 54 and light 52.

A shutter 58, similar to shutter 36, is formed by a metal bar displaceable in translation between a closed position light 52 (shown in Figure 4) and a retracted position releasing this light. Bar 58 is controlled by an actuator 60 formed by an electromagnet.

The actuator 60 is controlled by a control unit 62, itself connected to sensors 64 detecting the opening of the safe door.

In addition, the interior of the safe is lined as before a detonating cutting cord denoted 66, of which only a part is shown in the figure.

This cord, like the case of the detonator is fixed in the enclosure bounded by the safe. This enclosure is rated 68.

One end denoted 70 of this cord is arranged opposite of light 52. Sufficient space is maintained between light 52 and the end of the cord to allow the passage of the bar 58.

In this embodiment, the control unit 62 is programmed to control the flap 58 in order on the one hand to ensure its maintenance in its retracted position, when the access defined by the door to the enclosure is closed, and secondly to ensure the maintenance of the shutter in its closed position, when access to the enclosure is authorized.

As before, we understand that, when the door of the trunk is open, flap 58 ensures confinement of the initiation member 54 and the pyrotechnic initiation relay 56 inside the housing 50 of so that any accidental release is safe.

On the other hand, when the trunk door is closed, the flap 58 is cleared so that the continuity of the pyrotechnic chain is again assured. Thus, the activation of the initiating member 54 causes the ignition the pyrotechnic initiation relay 56 which in turn ensures tripping cutting line 66.

The pyrotechnic initiation relay 56 ensures the transfer of flame from the inside of the case to the end 70 of the cord. In particular, it allows the passage of the flame through the space provided for the passage of the flap 58.

A detonator as described here can be installed in any enclosure with an opening. In particular, it can be installed in a room or a work room. In this case, access is closed by a door. The initiating organ is then confined according to the state of opening of the door, to prohibit the triggering of the pyrotechnic chain when the door is open.

Similarly, such a detonator can be installed in a cabinet in which a set of keys or keys is stored e-cards.

Claims (9)

1. Detonator intended to be installed in an enclosure (16; 68) provided with an access opening which can be closed, of the type which has a part (28; 54) for initiating the pyrotechnic chain, a housing (26; 50) confining the said initiating part (28; 54), this housing (26; 50) having opposite the said initiating part (28; 54) a port (32; 52) for igniting a pyrotechnic charge (18; 66) fitted in the said enclosure (16; 68) on the outside of the said housing (26; 50), the detonator having in addition a shutter (36; 58) for blanking off the said port (32; 52) movable between a retracted position clear of the said port (32; 52) and a position in which this port [(32; 52) is blanked off, and characterised in that it has means (24; 62) of controlling the said shutter (36; 58) adapted to keep it in its retracted position, when access to the said enclosure (16; 68) is blanked off, and keep it in its blanking off position when the access to the said enclosure (16; 68) is open.
2. Detonator according to Claim 1, characterised in that it has a spring (40) putting pressure on the said shutter (36) in its position for blanking off the said port (32) and in that the said means of control have a pushrod (24) to release the said shutter (36) when blanking off the said access.
3. Detonator according to Claim 2, characterised in that the said pushrod (36) at least partially carries the pyrotechnic charge (18), and in that a part (48) of the pyrotechnic charge (18) can move in relation to the housing (26) to take the place of the blanking-off shutter (36) opposite the said port (32).
4. Detonator according to any one of the above claims, characterised in that it has a pyrotechnic initiating relay (56) between the said port (52) and the said initiating part (54).
5. Detonator according to any one of the above claims, characterised in that the said means of control contain an activator, particularly an electromagnet (60), for movement of the said shutter (58), this activator being connected to a pilot unit (62) containing means (64) of detecting the opening of the said access to the enclosure.
6. Safety container of the type which has an enclosure (16; 68) fitted with an access opening which can be blanked off and, arranged in the said enclosure, a pyrotechnic charge (18; 66) associated in a pyrotechnic chain with a triggering off detonator which is also arranged in the said enclosure, characterised in that the said detonator (20; 50) is a detonator according to any one of the Claims 1 to 5.
7. Container according to Claim 6, characterised in that it has means of locking the access and the part for initiating the pyrotechnic chain is connected to an electrical pilot circuit by means of a switch controlling the selective connection of the said pyrotechnic initiating part to the said electrical pilot circuit, and in that it has mechanical means of controlling the said switch in order to ensure connection of the said initiating part when the said access is locked and to ensure disconnection of the said pyrotechnical initiating part when the said access is unlocked.
8. Container according to Claim 6 or 7, characterised in that it has two hinged half-shells (12; 14) forming a case and a detonator (20) according to Claim 2 or 3 housed in the said case, and in that the said detonator housing (26) is fixed to a first half-shell (12), the pushrod (24) being fixed to the second half-shell (14) opposite the said housing (26).
9. Container according to Claim 6 or 7, taken together with Claim 5, characterised in that the access opening has a door and the said enclosure (68) forms a safe, the said means of detection having transducers (64) for opening the said door.

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