Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
  • F42C15/00—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
  • F42C15/20—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein a securing-pin or latch is removed to arm the fuze, e.g. removed from the firing-pin
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
  • F42C14/00—Mechanical fuzes characterised by the ammunition class or type
  • F42C14/02—Mechanical fuzes characterised by the ammunition class or type for hand grenades
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
  • F42C15/00—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
  • F42C15/005—Combination-type safety mechanisms, i.e. two or more safeties are moved in a predetermined sequence to each other
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
  • F42C—AMMUNITION FUZES; ARMING OR SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR
  • F42C15/00—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges
  • F42C15/18—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein a carrier for an element of the pyrotechnic or explosive train is moved
  • F42C15/184—Arming-means in fuzes; Safety means for preventing premature detonation of fuzes or charges wherein a carrier for an element of the pyrotechnic or explosive train is moved using a slidable carrier

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of igniter plugs for pyrotechnic devices.
• the present invention finds particular but not exclusively application in grenades usable by hand or with mechanical means of launching whatever their functions, for example explosives, smoke, lighting or combined.
• a delay igniter plug for pyrotechnic device in accordance with FIG. 1 appended, comprising a body 4 provided with a control mechanism comprising a trigger lever 1 and a release mechanism.
• percussion 28 cooperating with a primary pyrotechnic module 5, 3, 9, 13 capable of ensuring the initiation of the charge 19 of the associated device and axially displaceable in the body towards the main charge, means 2 for holding the primary pyrotechnic module 5 axially spaced from the main charge 19 and a screen 12a, 15 interposed between the main charge and the primary pyrotechnic module.
• the means 2 for holding the primary pyrotechnic module 5 axially spaced from the main charge 19 are exclusively mechanical means, actuated by the trigger lever 1.
• the means for holding the pyrotechnic module 5 spaced axially from the main charge 19, comprise a jumper 2 housed in the body 4 of the plug and engaged with the primary pyrotechnic module 5, the trigger lever 1 comprising a member 1a for extracting the jumper, when the trigger lever 1 is released relative to the body of said plug.
• the grenade is pinned by extracting, by combined rotation and traction, a pin 25. Then the grenade is launched.
• the trigger lever 1 is no longer held in its locking position, the elastic stress of a spring 22, by means of a striker 24, makes the lever 1 pivot. After a rotation of about 30 ° the finger 1a of the trigger lever 1 comes to bear on the jumper 2 and begins its extraction.
• the striker 24 escapes and strikes the primer 3, the rider 2 having not yet released the primary delay pyrotechnic module 5.
• the trigger lever 1 ends its rotation and is freed from the body 4 by driving the jumper 2, which has the effect of unlocking the primary pyrotechnic module with delay 5.
• the pyrotechnic module delay primary 5 is translated which clears the screen 12a, the solid element 12a of a cup 12 coming to the bottom of a cell 29 of a cup 18.
• a micro-detonator 13 is then in the priming position detonation by radial effect.
• the present invention now aims to provide a new improved igniter plug.
• an igniter plug for pyrotechnic device in particular grenade with manual or mechanical launching, comprising a body provided with a control mechanism comprising a trigger lever and a percussion mechanism cooperating with a primary pyrotechnic module capable of initiating the charge of the associated craft, characterized in that it also comprises a lock which is engaged with the lever, in the storage position, to prevent a free movement of the trigger lever towards its release position, the lock being shaped to impose during the implementation of the igniter plug, an initial movement of the lever against its movement required to release the percussion mechanism in order to disengage the latch and release lever.
• the bolt is resiliently biased towards a release position, released from the lever.
• the lock is itself initially maintained in an initial safety position by at least two mechanical locking means, so that the release of the lock requires a double manipulation of these locking means.
• one of the locking means of the lock is formed by the trigger lever.
• one of the locking means of the lock is formed by a pin.
• the primary pyrotechnic module is axially movable in the body towards the main charge and mechanical means keep the primary pyrotechnic module axially separated from the main charge in an initial safety position
• the plug being characterized in that the means for holding the primary pyrotechnic module axially spaced from the main charge comprise the latch resiliently biased from an initial safety position in which the latch interferes with the movement path of the primary pyrotechnic module to prevent its movement towards the charge main, towards a release position in which the lock deviates from the path of movement of the primary pyrotechnic module.
• an igniter plug for a pyrotechnic device in particular a grenade with manual or mechanical launching, comprising a body provided with a control mechanism comprising a trigger lever and a percussion mechanism cooperating with a primary pyrotechnic module capable of initiating the charge of the associated device and axially displaceable in the body towards the main charge and mechanical means for holding the primary pyrotechnic module axially spaced apart from the main charge in an initial safety position
• the means for holding the primary pyrotechnic module axially spaced apart from the main charge comprise a bolt resiliently biased from a position initial safety in which the lock interferes with the movement path of the primary pyrotechnic module to prevent its movement towards the main charge, towards a release position in which the lock deviates from the movement path of the primary pyrotechnic module, the lock being himself maintained initially t in the initial safety position by at least two mechanical locking
• the means for holding the primary pyrotechnic module axially spaced from the main charge further comprises a jumper housed in the body of the plug and initially engaged with the primary pyrotechnic module, the jumper being provided with 'A means capable of cooperating with the trigger lever to cause the extraction of the jumper when the release lever is released relative to the body of said plug.
• FIG. 2 schematically represents the structure of an igniter plug in accordance with the present invention, in the initial safety position, FIGS. 3 to 7 represent the same device at different successive stages of its operation,
• FIGS. 8 and 9 show the same device in two cases of non-operation resulting from the safety means incorporated in the device, following an implementation that does not comply with the required protocol,
• FIG. 10 schematically represents a pin according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 11 schematically represents means of cooperation defined between the latch and the trigger lever in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 12 schematically shows a device according to an optional alternative embodiment of the present invention.
• the igniter plug illustrated in the appended figures applies in particular to hand grenades. However, it is not limited to this particular application.
• a support body 104 This can be made of plastic material loaded with glass fibers, light alloy or any other equivalent material.
• the body 104 carries a primary pyrotechnic module 105 and a secondary pyrotechnic module 117.
• the secondary module 117 is preferably fixed on the body 104, while the primary pyrotechnic module 105 is capable of displacement in translation along an axis OO between an initial position safety (illustrated in Figure 1) and a subsequent working position (illustrated in Figure 7), as will be explained later.
• the device illustrated in Figures 2 and following further comprises, in a manner known per se, a trigger lever 101 provided with a transverse locking pin 125 equipped with a gripping ring.
• the igniter plug illustrated in FIGS. 2 and following also includes a striker device 128 rotatably mounted on the body 104 around an axis 121 transverse to the axis of relative translation OO defined between the primary pyrotechnic module 105 and the pyrotechnic module secondary 117.
• the striker 128 is biased towards a percussion position of the primary pyrotechnic module 105 by a spring 122 wound for example around the transverse axis 121. However, initially, the striker 128 is kept away from the primary pyrotechnic module 105 by the trip lever 101.
• the primary pyrotechnic module 104 is initially kept away from the secondary pyrotechnic module 117 by a jumper 102.
• the jumper 102 has a main branch which extends transversely to the axis OO and which thus interferes, in the initial storage position, both with the body 104 and the primary pyrotechnic module 105.
• the lever 101 is engaged by a front spout 101c with a step of the body 104.
• the body 104 further comprises two curved lateral ramps (not illustrated in the appended figures to simplify the illustration) arranged under the lever 101 so to guide the latter in rotation after removal of the pin 125.
• the primary pyrotechnic module 105 is preferably a delay module. It includes a metal case 110, for example made of light alloy, at the base of which is crimped a cup 112 whose length and diameter correspond to those of an axial chamber 129 formed in the secondary pyrotechnic module 117.
• the primary pyrotechnic module carries at least one delay element 109.
• the metal case 110 contains at its upper end a percussive primer 103, held for example by crimping and protected by a varnish or a resin. The position of the percussive primer 103 on the metal case 105 and the amplitude of the striker 128 are determined so that when the release lever 101 is withdrawn, the striker 128 strikes the primer 103 under the effect of spring stress 122.
• the metal case 110 successively houses, along the axis OO, from the percussive primer 103, a retarding composition 109, an initiating composition 111 and a microdetonator 113 which constitutes the primary explosive of the pyrotechnic chain.
• the base of the bucket 112 is secured to a metal pellet 112a.
• the case 110 of the primary pyrotechnic module 105 is partially inserted in a case 116 of the secondary pyrotechnic module 117.
• an axial spacing allows the case 110 to slide inside the case 116 along the axis OO, when the case 110 is released.
• sealing means are interposed between the case 110 of the primary pyrotechnic module 105 and the case 116 of the secondary pyrotechnic module 117.
• these sealing means are formed of a flexible sheath referenced 116a, fixed by its ends respectively on the case 110 in the vicinity of the percussive primer 103 and on the case 116.
• the secondary pyrotechnic module 117 preferably comprises a detonation relay constituted by a aluminum cup containing a secondary explosive 119 and a closure capsule or ring 115 which, in combination with the tablet 112a disposed at the base of the cup 112 of the primary module 105 forms a screen between the micro-detonator 113 and the secondary explosive 119 which is the main boot load.
• the tablet 112a in the initial safety position, during storage, the tablet 112a is located at the level of the closure capsule 115, in a bore formed therein.
• the means for holding the primary pyrotechnic module 105 in a position axially spaced from the main charge 119 comprise a latch 150.
• the latch 150 is resiliently biased from an initial safety position illustrated in FIG. 2 towards a release position shown in FIG. 5. In the initial safety position, the latch 150 interferes with the movement path of the primary pyrotechnic module 105 to prevent its movement towards the main charge 119.
• the latch 150 is itself initially maintained in the initial safety position as illustrated in FIG. 2 by at least two mechanical locking means.
• the two mechanical locking means of the latch 150 are formed one by the release lever 101, the other by the pin 125. More precisely still, according to the particular embodiment shown in the appended figures, the latch 150 has the general shape of an L comprising two main branches 152 and 154 generally oriented orthogonally to one another.
• the latch 150 is mounted for rotation between the initial safety position and the release position around an axis 160 located in the vicinity of the intersection between the two branches 152 and 154.
• the axis of rotation of the lever 150 can be embodied by a pin engaged both with the body 104 and the lever 150, or any equivalent means.
• the elastic member urging the latch 150 towards the release position, from the initial safety position is preferably formed of a pin spring 170 having a spiral wound around the axis 160 and two end branches supported respectively one on the body 104, the other on the latch 150. In the initial safety position, one of the arms 152 of the latch
• the branch 152 extends substantially parallel to the axis OO of translation of the primary pyrotechnic module 105.
• the branch 152 extends in the direction of the end of the primary pyrotechnic module 105 adjacent to the primer 103, from the axis of rotation 160. And as can be seen in the appended FIG. 2, the free end of this branch 152 serves as a stop, in the initial safety position, for a step 106 formed on the case 110 of the primary pyrotechnic module 105.
• the latch 150 prevents movement of the case 110 towards the main charge 119.
• the second branch 154 of the latch 150 in the initial position, extends substantially transversely to the axis OO of translation of the case 110, away from this axis OO from the axis of rotation 160. Furthermore, as it can be seen in the appended figures, preferably, at its free end, the second branch 154 of the latch 150 is provided with a return or spout 155 passing through a passage 101a formed in the trigger lever 101 so that the spout 155 comes in engagement with the external surface of the trigger lever 101 in the initial safety position.
• the orientation of the contact surfaces thus defined between the spout 155 and the trigger lever 101, as well as the surface condition of the contact zones, are defined so that the torque resulting from the friction force exerted on the spout 155 of the latch 150 by the trigger lever 101 is greater than the motor torque applied to the latch 150 by the spring 170.
• the cooperation defined between the trigger lever 101 and the latch 150 prevents movement of the latch 150 towards the position of release, under the effect of the spring 170, as long as the trigger lever 101 has not been manipulated in approaching the axis OO of the machine, to release the spout 155 and the latch 150, as will be explained thereafter.
• one of the branches 126 of the pin 125 which branch 126 is transverse to the axis OO, serves as a support for the branch 152 of the lock 150. More precisely still, the branch 126 of the pin 125 serves as a support for the radially external surface of the branch 152.
• the striker 128 is immobilized by the trigger lever 101.
• the latter is itself immobilized by the pin 125.
• the latch 150 is immobilized in the safety position, on the one hand by the trigger lever 101 thanks to the spout 155 and, on the other hand, by the safety pin thanks to its branch 126.
• the case 110 of the primary pyrotechnic module 105 is held in a position remote from the secondary pyrotechnic module 117, on the one hand by the latch 150 and, on the other hand by the jumper 102.
• this manipulation of the trigger lever 101 generates a clearance between the spout 155 of the latch 150 and the trigger lever 101.
• the latch 150 having been previously released from its cooperation with the trigger lever 101, the extraction of the branch 126 from the pin 125 completely releases the latch 150 and authorizes the rotation thereof around its axis 160 under the effect of the stress of the spring 170.
• the primary pyrotechnic module 105 is then released from the latch 150 as seen in FIG. 4.
• the craft can then be launched in a conventional manner per se.
• the trigger lever 101 finishes its rotation and drives the locking jumper or pin 102.
• the extraction of the locking jumper or pin 102 is carried out in approximately 5/100 e s after the percussion of the primer 103. This arrangement ensures security, capable of protecting the user of the machine in the event of instantaneous operation of the primary module.
• the case 110 of the primary pyrotechnic module 105 is thus released in translation along the axis OO due to the ejection of the jumper 102.
• the residual force of the striker 128 on the case 110 allows it to translate to the secondary pyrotechnic module 117 and to align the pyrotechnic chain by positioning the micro-detonator 113 at the heart of the detonation relay of the secondary pyrotechnic module 117.
• the delay 109 When the delay 109 arrives at the end of combustion, it excites the primary microdetonator 113 which in turn initiates the detonation relay 119.
• the device is found in the position illustrated in FIG. 7.
• the latch 150 in the event of incorrect handling of the machine, for example by removing the pin 125 without taking hold of the trigger lever 101, the latch 150 remains blocked by the trigger lever 101, so that the latch 150 prevents movement of the primary pyrotechnic module 110.
• the device in the event of the grip of the lever trigger 101 without ejecting the pin 125, the device is found in the position illustrated in FIG. 3, and the pin holding the lock 150 in the initial safety position, the primary pyrotechnic module 110 remains in the initial locked position.
• the primary pyrotechnic module 110 were to be excited in the storage position, as illustrated in FIG.
• the initiation of the micro-detonator 113 would result in crimping the solid part of the micro-holder. trained detonator by the bucket 112, in the ring 115 of the detonation relay.
• a disc of the order of 4 mm thick is then obtained which isolates the primary part or micro-detonator 113 from the secondary part or detonation relay, thereby prohibiting its initiation.
• the full disc therefore constitutes a physical rupture of the pyrotechnic chain, leading to storage security.
• the device according to the present invention can be equipped with additional means capable of preventing its operation in the event of the pin 125 being ejected without taking hold of the lever. 101.
• the additional safety means provided for this purpose, include means suitable for preventing the ejection of the pin 125 if the trigger lever 101 is not taken in hand.
• these means consist of a shoulder 127 formed on the branch 126 of the pin 125, in order to allow at rest an eccentricity between the pin 125 and the trigger lever 101.
• the shoulder 127 abuts against the lever 101 and the removal of the pin 125 is prohibited.
• the trigger lever 101 is previously pressed against the body of the machine as illustrated in FIG. 3, the pin is then aligned with the bore of the trigger lever 101 so that the withdrawal of the pin 125 is authorized.
• Two other additional means are intended in particular to prevent inadvertent operation of the machine in the event of an accidental fall after removal of the pin 125 and without taking hold of the lever.
• One of these means provides means with complementary shapes between the spout 155 of the lock 150 and the trigger lever 101. More precisely still, as illustrated in FIG. 11, the spout 155 has a tenon 156 or equivalent directed generally radially inwards in the direction of the axis OO, and capable of penetrating into a complementary bore 101b formed on the trigger lever 101.
• a material such as a viscoelastic rubber between the trigger lever 101 of the igniter plug and the body of the machine.
• This material is generally referenced 190 in the attached FIG. 12. It is preferably an eraser whose hardness increases with the speed of stress. This makes it possible to avoid the displacement of the trigger lever 101 during very sharp stress resulting from a fall, but on the other hand allows the displacement of the trigger lever 101 during a grip of conventional lever 101.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Automotive Seat Belt Assembly (AREA)
• Rotary Switch, Piano Key Switch, And Lever Switch (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (2)

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• 2000
  • 2000-07-31 FR FR0010059A patent/FR2807511B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2001
  • 2001-04-05 EP EP01921488A patent/EP1269107B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-04-05 AT AT01921488T patent/ATE344435T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-04-05 US US10/240,957 patent/US6792868B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-04-05 ES ES01921488T patent/ES2273823T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-04-05 WO PCT/FR2001/001028 patent/WO2001077608A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-04-05 DE DE60124233T patent/DE60124233T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

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