EP1640546A1 - Transport and storage container for valuable items - Google Patents

Abstract

The container (1) has a pyrotechnic unit (4) dispersing a chemical product on valuables and comprising a gas generator with a propellant. A grid (6) placed between the valuables and a reservoir has openings on its side facing the reservoir. The openings permit the passage of the product whose propulsion speed and physical dispersion are controlled by decomposition of the propellant and number, disposition and size of the openings.

Description

The present invention relates to a container for transport and / or storage of values comprising a chemical propellant device for staining and / or value destruction improved.

More particularly, the invention relates to a value transport container in which a product of staining and / or destruction is propelled from a reservoir on the values in case of attempted break-in.

In this type of container, the chemical intended to allow the staining and / or the destruction of the values in the event of a break-in is contained in a tank, for example in a glass bulb. When triggering, pyrotechnic means are provided, which have a multiple function. On the one hand, they create a detonating effect also called blast effect to break at least partially the bulb, thus ensuring the release of the product. Then, the blast effect allows the propulsion of the chemical on the values disposed in the vicinity. Finally, the pyrotechnic means also ensure the opening of the packaging bags surrounding the values.

Although providing overall satisfaction, this type of container can be further improved, especially in terms of the dispersion of the product of staining / destruction on the values.

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a transport container and / or storage values to solve these problems and in particular to improve the propulsion of the product values.

It has been found that the speed of propulsion imparted to the chemicals with pyrotechnic means leads to the evaporation, the vaporization and / or the degradation of the chemical or to its propulsion out of the targeted space where the values are, and thus leads to a loss of effectiveness of the chemical.

Thus, the object of the invention is to propose a propulsion device that makes it possible in particular to confer on the chemical product a propelling speed and moderate distribution in order to avoid losses of efficiency.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a container for transporting or storing values comprising values, at least one chemical reservoir, of the first pyrotechnic means for the release of said chemical product on the values, triggered by means of control, which first pyrotechnic means comprising an igniter and a gas generator, characterized in that the gas generator comprises a propellant.

The reaction time of the propellant is variable and depends in particular on its content of butadiene and ammonium nitrate or other compounds generally used in the composition of gas generators. Preferably, the reaction time is 5 to 500 milliseconds, and especially 5 to 50 milliseconds. This reaction time, lower than that of usual pyrotechnic means, located in the order of one microsecond, reduces the speed of propulsion and dispersion of the chemical.

There is then a marked improvement in the efficiency of the chemical, most of which is uniformly distributed over the values as soon as the bag surrounding the values has already been destroyed.

• les premiers moyens pyrotechniques sont disposés à proximité du réservoir de produit chimique.
• le réservoir de produit chimique est en matière plastique ;
• une grille disposée entre les valeurs et le réservoir de produit chimique, et munie sur son côté faisant face au réservoir d'une pluralité d'ouvertures en saillie ;
• les valeurs sont entourées par une enveloppe ;
• le conteneur comprend en outre des seconds moyens pyrotechniques ;
• les seconds moyens pyrotechniques comprennent un initiateur pyrotechnique et un cordeau détonant ;
• les seconds moyens pyrotechniques sont placés à proximité de l'enveloppe entourant les valeurs.

According to other preferred features of the invention:

• the first pyrotechnic means are arranged near the chemical reservoir.
• the chemical tank is made of plastic;
• a grid disposed between the values and the chemical reservoir, and provided on its side facing the reservoir with a plurality of projecting openings;
• the values are surrounded by an envelope;
• the container further comprises second pyrotechnic means;
• the second pyrotechnic means comprise a pyrotechnic initiator and a detonating cord;
• the second pyrotechnic means are placed close to the envelope surrounding the values.

• Fig.1 représente une vue en élévation schématique d'un conteneur selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• Fig. 2 représente une vue en coupe schématique d'un conteneur selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• Fig. 3 A et 3 B représentent une vue de face et de côté respectivement d'un mode de réalisation de la grille du conteneur illustré à la figure 1.

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

• Fig.1 shows a schematic elevational view of a container according to an embodiment of the invention;
• Fig. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a container according to one embodiment of the invention;
• Fig. 3A and 3B show a front view and a side view respectively of an embodiment of the gate of the container illustrated in FIG.

It is indeed illustrated schematically in these figures, a container 1 for transport and / or storage of values. This container can be portable or not and can be in various forms such as a bag, a suitcase, a safe, a bank ATM or others.

This type of container can be used in any circumstances where you want to secure values. More specifically, it is useful when transporting securities or when they are stored, particularly in cash dispensers.

The values 2 are not shown in FIG. 1 for the sake of clarity, and are illustrated in the form of a bundle of bills in FIG. 2. They may be, for example, paper documents, bank notes or bank or plastic cards or other valuable media. Generally, the values are surrounded by an envelope 7, which is generally made of a polymer material, in particular polyethylene.

The container 1 also comprises at least one, preferably two, reservoirs 3 of one or more chemicals.

The chemical tank (s) 3 may be frangible, such as a glass bulb.

Preferably, however, the tank 3 of the chemical product is in the form of a welded bag. Preferably, the bag is made of a flexible material, for example polymer or composite material. Of the polymers, polyethylene (PE) is particularly preferred. The choice of the material depends among other things on its frangibility.

Chemical 4 is intended to render the values unusable. Preferably, it acts by alteration or destruction of values. The alteration can be carried out for example by staining. In this case, a suitable chemical will be selected from among inks and pigments, for example. Preferably, however, the values are rendered useless by destruction. The adapted chemical product is then chosen according to the support of the values. These may be products that emit high heat in contact with the air, leading to combustion or melting of values. For paper values, it can also be strong mineral acids, such as in particular sulfoperiodic acid. Preferably, the chemical is in liquid solution form.

The container further comprises first pyrotechnic means 4, which are connected to control means 5.

The first pyrotechnic means 4 comprise igniter means, of any appropriate type and in particular black powder, and means forming a gas generator.

According to the invention, the gas generator comprises a propellant. Generally, the gas generator consists essentially of propellant. The propellant couples and igniters are the conventional devices used in particular in automobile airbags to generate the gas to inflate them. A quantity of 0.5 to 1 g of propellant will generate a few liters of gas, which is generally sufficient for containers of conventional size.

When they are fired, the pyrotechnic means 4 have the function of causing the rupture of the reservoir (s) 3 of the chemical product and thus the release of this product, and secondly, causing a blast effect. allowing the propulsion of this chemical and their dispersion on the values.

The control means 5 make it possible to trigger the pyrotechnic means in the event of detection of a predetermined event. For this purpose, they are likely to generate sufficient voltage to trigger the igniter and / or the initiator of these means. Different types of control means 5 are known in the state of the art. In particular, the means described in patent applications FR 2 821 382 and FR 2 844 294 are suitable. They can be connected to the pyrotechnic means, for example by connecting wires.

The container illustrated in FIG. 1 also contains a grid 6 situated between the values 2 and the chemical reservoir 3, which is represented in more detail in FIG. 3A and 3B.

The grid 6 is provided on its side facing the reservoir with a plurality of projecting openings, preferably forming pins. It is preferably made of a rigid material, for example polymer such as plexiglass, polycarbonate or the like, or metal, or ceramic.

The projecting openings may be in the form of pins or knives, for example. They create openings in the tank when it is crushed against the gate 6 by the gas expansion of the first pyrotechnic means. The openings made allow the passage of the chemical at a rate which is controlled by the decomposition of the propellant. The number, the arrangement and the size of the openings of the grid 6 make it possible to control the speed of propulsion of the chemical product and its physical dispersion.

Finally, the container 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises second pyrotechnic means 8 also connected to the control means 5. These second pyrotechnic means are triggered at the same time as the first pyrotechnic means and have the function of tearing the surrounding envelope values. They will therefore preferably be placed near the values. Preferably, they are incorporated in the grid 6, as illustrated in the figures.

Preferably, these are chopper cords, known in themselves. They then include a pyrotechnic initiator and a detonating cord. Their response time is faster than that of the first pyrotechnic means 4.

The operation of the container illustrated in Figure 1 is described in more detail below.

In the event of a predetermined event, such as an attempt to break the container, the control means 5 send a signal likely to trigger the pyrotechnic means 4; 8.

The propellant then generates a quantity of gas, which compresses the reservoir 3 against the grid 6 provided with projecting openings, of the spike type, which has the effect of tearing the reservoir, and of releasing the chemical. Moreover, the second pyrotechnic means 8 tear beforehand the envelope surrounding values and values is exposed to the chemical.

The choice of propellant in the first pyrotechnic means 4 on the one hand and the nature of the grid 6 on the other hand makes it possible to reduce the speed of propulsion of the chemical product and to increase its efficiency.

It is therefore conceivable that the particular means in the container has a certain advantage in terms of the dispersion of this product on these values.

Of course, other embodiments of the container described can be envisaged.

Claims (8)

Container for transport or storage of values (1) comprising values (2), at least one reservoir (3) of chemical product, first pyrotechnic means (4) for the release of said chemical on the values (2), triggered by control means (5), comprising an igniter and a gas generator, characterized in that the gas generator comprises a propellant. Container according to claim 1, wherein the first pyrotechnic means (4) are arranged near the reservoir (3) of chemical product. Container according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chemical reservoir (3) is made of plastics material. Container according to claim 3, wherein is disposed between the values and the reservoir (3) of chemical a grid (6) provided on its side facing the reservoir of a plurality of projecting openings. Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the values (2) are surrounded by an envelope (7). Container according to claim 5, further comprising one of the second pyrotechnic means (8). Container according to claim 6, wherein the second pyrotechnic means (8) comprise a pyrotechnic initiator and a detonating cord. Container according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the second pyrotechnic means (8) are placed near the envelope (7) surrounding the values (2).

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