FR2533687A1 - Method of modular manufacture of fuses of various types for projectiles, and fuses produced according to this method as well as constructive elements for their manufacture. - Google Patents

Abstract

Method of modular manufacture of fuses of various types, and fuses produced according to this method, as well as their constructive elements. Each fuse is constructed by assembling standardised interchangeable functional constructive elements 1a, 4, 6, 8, 10, each constituting a sub-assembly with a defined function, and, as the case may be, non-functional elements 22 which can be substituted for the functional elements which are not necessary for the type of fuse desired. Application especially to artillery fuses with instantaneous or retarded operation, and tube or trajectory safety.

Description

Modular manufacturing process for rockets of various types for projectiles, and rockets produced according to this process as well as constructive elements for their manufacture.

 The present invention relates to the manufacture of rockets intended to equip projectiles.

 It relates more particularly to a new modular manufacturing process as well as the rockets produced according to this process and the elements for their manufacture.

 The various projectiles and particularly girants used in artillery are of several types in order to obtain predetermined functions: in particular the explosion at the time of impact or after a certain delay allowing the projectile to penetrate into the target before d 'explode.

 In addition, the projectile is asked to present security for a period of time which may be very short, in fact the time for the projectile to pass through the ducaton tube, which is the case for artillery carried on armored vehicles or housed in casemates.

 In other circumstances, in particular shooting without protection, we also ask for security extending over most of the trajectory of the projectile which must not be able to explode prematurely.

 These various types of rockets have hitherto been the subject of separate manufacture using parts specially designed for each type of rocket. This led to the drawbacks of more or less large series production and the storage of numerous parts.

 The object of the invention is to overcome the abovementioned drawbacks and to make it possible to manufacture standardized rockets having at TiLont all of the characteristics relating to each type with minimum storage of parts and production in greater numbers.

 The subject of the invention is a modular method of manufacturing interchangeable rockets of various types, characterized in that each particular function of the various types of rockets is carried out separately in the form of standardized functional constructive elements, each constituting a subset of defined function, er. cs that non-functional constructive elements are each substituted for at least one subset, and that each type of rocket is constructed on demand, by assembling only the functional constructive elements necessary for the type of rocket requested, and non-functional substituting constructive elements, possibly necessary for construction.

 The subject of the invention is also an artillery rocket with selection of instantaneous or delayed operation and trajectory safety constructed according to the method of the invention characterized in that it results from the assembly of subassemblies, standardized functional constituted, the first by a rocket body in the form of a warhead pierced with an axial channel and having a manual means of selection of the type of operation accessible from the outside, the second by a percussion assembly inserted at the point of a warhead, the third by a delayed operating primer block with unlocking and active position by centrifugal force, the fourth by an unlocking safety group activated and actuated by centrifugal force, with self-timer mechanism, to establish a chain pyrotechnics of the percussion unit to the detonator and release at the end of the race the primer holder block, by a relay primer brought axially at the end of the race, the fifth pa r a closing plug with a locking bolt for the clockwork mechanism of the armament security group, unlockable by inertia, crossed by a relay primer and the sixth by a detonator.

In one embodiment of such a rocket,
The percussion assembly comprises an axial striker rod passing through the rocket body, and the primer block includes two primers, one for instantaneous operation, the other for delayed operation, the means of selecting the type of operation carried. by the rocket body limiting the travel of the primer holder block to bring, depending on the selected selection, the instant primer or the delayed primer in the axis of the striker, each primer being housed in a channel passing through the primer holder block.

 According to another embodiment, the percussion assembly comprises an instantaneous primer of warhead housed at the end of the axial channel passing through the rocket body, and the delay primer holder block is traversed by a channel of which a tubular end movable axially is housed at the end of travel of the primer holder block in a housing dug in the end of the axial channel. of the rocket body, the means of selecting the type of operation carried by the rocket body allowing at will to leave free the axial channel of the rocket body for instant operation or to close it for delayed operation.

 The tubular end carried by the primer holder block can lock at the end of the race the means for selecting the type of operation in the body of the rocket.

 The primer holder block can bring the end of the delayed operating primer to the end of the stroke opposite an auxiliary striker that it comes to strike by inertia on impact, salcana opening into the channel passing through 4 primer holder block.

 The invention also relates to an artillery rocket with instantaneous operation and trajectory safety, constructed according to the method of the invention characterized in that it results from the assembly of standardized elements made up, the first by a rocket body in the form of a warhead pierced with an axial channel, the second by a percussion assembly inserted at the point of a warhead, the third by a non-functional constructive connecting element substituting a primer holder block and constituted by a pierced block d '' an axial channel, the fourth by an armament security group unlocked and actuated by centrifugal force, with self-timer mechanism, to establish a pyrotechnic chain from the percussion unit to the detonator, by relay primer brought axially at the end of racing, the fifth by a closing plug with locking bolt of the clock mechanism of the armament security group, unlockable by inertia, crossed by a relay primer, and the sixth by a detonator.

 The subject of the invention is also an artillery rocket with instantaneous operation and tube safety; constructed according to the method of the invention and characterized in that it results from the assembly of standardized elements constituted, the first by a rocket body in the shape of a warhead pierced with an axial channel, the second by a percussion assembly inserted at the point of a warhead, the third by a non-functional constructive connecting element substituting a primer holder block and constituted by a block pierced with an axial channel, the fourth by an arming safety group unlocks and actuated by centrifugal force to establish, by a relay primer brought axially to the end of the stroke without delay, a pyrotechnic chain of the percussion assembly with the detonator, the fifth by a closing plug with a locking bolt of the clock mechanism of the armament security group, labile unlocking by inertia, crossed by a relay primer and the sixth by a detonate ur.

 Finally, the invention relates to modular constructive elements which can be assembled for the construction of rockets according to the invention, characterized in that they comprise functional elements of various types standardized and interchangeable in each category of function, constituted by rocket bodies, percussion sets, delay primer blocks, armament security groups, closure caps, detonators, as well as non-functional elements substitutable for functional elements of at least one function category.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows and on examining the appended drawings which represent, by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments of the invention.

Figures 1 and 4 are schematic views and
partial. in axial section of two types of artillery rocket construction according to the invention with selection of instantaneous or delayed operation and trajectory safety,
FIGS. 2 and 5 are views similar to those of FIGS. 1 and 4 of artillery rockets with instantaneous operation and trajectory safety, and,
Figures 3 and 6 are views similar to those of the previous figures of artillery fuses according to the invention, instantaneous operation and tube safety.

 In the various figures, the corresponding elements are designated by the same reference numerals.

 The rockets shown in Figures 1 and 4 are formed by assembling a rocket body 1 comprising a manual means of selection 3 between instantaneous or delayed operation.

 the end of the warhead formed by the body 1 is housed a percussion assembly 4. Unlike the percussion assembly 4 are successively housed in the rocket body 1, a block for delayed operating initiator 5, an arming safety group 6, a closure plug 10 and a detonator 8. Each of these elements constitutes a complete functional sub-assembly fulfilling a defined function.

 In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 5, there is a simplified rocket body, since it does not include means for selecting the type of operation.

The detonator 8, the closure plug 10, the arming safety group 6 are identical.

 On the other hand, the delayed operation initiator block 5 is replaced by a non-functional constructive connecting element constituted by a block 22 pierced with a channel 23. In this type of rocket, the delay initiation block is unnecessary.

 In the embodiment represented in FIGS. 3 and 6, the same elements are found as in FIGS. 2 and 5, but the armament security group 6 with self-timer mechanism 7 of the previous embodiments is replaced by a simplified analog block 6a not provided with a clock mechanism.

 Thus, to manufacture these various types of interchangeable standardized rockets, it suffices to have two types of rocket body 1, la, of a single type of percussion assembly 4, of a single type of detonator 8 and of plug 10, two types of armament security group 6, 6a and one type of non-functional Link element 22.

 For the purpose of better illustration, two distinct groups of examples of application of the invention have been shown, one consisting of the rockets of FIGS. 1 to 3, the other of the rockets of FIGS. 4 to 6.

 I1 is however quite obvious that one could push standardization further with the same elements which would be interchangeable between the two embodiments. In other words, the percussion assembly of FIGS. 4 to 6 can be easily adapted on the rockets of FIGS. 1 to 3. The block initiating delayed operation 5 with the manual means for selecting the type of operation 3 associated with the rockets of the figures 4 to 6 can be adapted on the rockets of FIGS. 1 to 3, just as the non-functional constructive connecting element 22 of FIGS. 1 to 3 can very well equip the rockets of FIGS. 4 to 6.

 ijès.différents, constructive elements of these various rockets are known in their functions.

The particular embodiments of the modes of the examples shown may nevertheless have certain advantages.

 The percussion assembly 4 of the rocket of FIG. 1 is conventional and comprises an instantaneous primer 16 housed at the end of the channel 2 drilled in the rocket body 1 and subjected to the action of an end striker 24.

 The operating selection means 3 is constituted by a sort of ball valve which leaves the passage of channel 2 free for instant operation and closes it for delayed operation.

 The delayed operating primer block 5 comprises an offset 25 pivoting about an ax 26 and carrying a delayed primer 15 as well as a tubular end piece 18 sliding inside a bore 17 and constantly stressed by a spiral spring 27 towards the warhead.

 A ball 28 blocks the assembly by wedging against the armament security group located below.

 The armament security block 6 is of the conventional type and includes a self-timer mechanism 7 and a relay primer 9. This armament security group 6 is locked in rotation by an inertia lock ll housed in the plug 10 which is crossed by an axial relay primer 12.

 In addition, Arming safety group 6 comprises a rotation lock, not shown, released by centrifugal force, of the conventional type for this type of member.

 At the start of the blow, the inertia lock ll releases the safety group 6 which is also released by the rotation of the projectile in the tube and which can thus pivot under the control of the clockwork mechanism 7.

 At the end of the course of the armament security group 6, the relay primer 9 is located in the axis of the rocket in the extension of the relay primer 12, and the ball 28 releases the primer holder block 5 which pivots to bring the tubular endpiece 18 in the axis in the extension of the housing 19 hollowed out in the end of the axial channel 2 of the rocket body 1 where it is inserted under the action of the spring 17 by blocking the plug of the means of operating selection 3. At the same time, the delay initiator 21 came opposite an auxiliary striker 20. At this time, in the position of the plug of the selection means 3 corresponding to instantaneous operation, the channel 2 is free and communicates with channel 17 to come out opposite the relay primer 9.

 The primer 16 of the percussion assembly directly causes the operation of the primer 9, then of the primer 12 and finally of the detonator 8.

 In the case where the bushel of the selection means 3 is turned by 900, which corresponds to the delay operation, the head primer works but cannot communicate with the relay primer 9. On the other hand, the assembly 25 projects by inertia the delay primer 15 against the auxiliary striker 20 and causes the primer 9 to function and by it that of the primer 12 and the detonator 8.

 A particular advantage of this type of rocket lies in that, in instant operation if the primer 16 of the percussion assembly 4 does not work, the delay primer 15 operates and triggers the detonator.

 This rocket has numerous trajectory safeties ia timer 7, dginterruption of pyro chain technise by the non-aligned positions of the primers 9 and 15, for arming with longitudinal acceleration by latch 11 and rotation by bolts (not shown ) of the primer holder block 5 and of the arming safety group 6 and finally of sabotage by the tubular endpiece 18 which blocks the rotation of the plug of the selection means 3.

 The operating mode of the rockets in FIGS. 2 and 3 follows from that of the more complex rocket in FIG. 1.

 In these last two types of rocket, the relay primer 9 is placed, opposite the channels 2, 23 and the relay primer 12, with a certain delay caused by the clockwork mechanism7 in the rocket of FIG. 2 , and almost immediately in the case of the rocket of Figure 3 which does not have a delay device.

 On impact, the operation of the primer 16 cascade triggers that of the primers 9 and 12 and of the detonator b.

In the embodiment of Figures 4 to 6, we find the same arrangements as in the rockets of Figures 1 to 3, but the instant primer 16 of the percussion assembly 4 is moved inside the rocket
at 14 in the delay primer 5 block of FIG. 4, consisting of or / and the relay primer 9 of the safety group 6 in the rockets of FIGS. 5 and 6. To activate these primers, the striker 13 is extended accordingly. in the body 1.

 The operation of these various rockets is analogous to that of the rockets of FIGS. 1 to 3.

 Of course, the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown, it is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art, depending on the applications envisaged and without departing from the scope of the invention. 'invention.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. Method of modular manufacture of interchangeable rockets of various types, for projectiles, characterized in that each particular function of the various types of rockets is carried out separately in the form of standardized functional constructive elements, each constituting a subset of function defined, in that we construct functional rDn constructive elements each substitutable for at least one subset, and in that we build each type of rocket on demand, by assembling the only functional constructive elements necessary for the type of rocket requested, and non-functional substitute constructive elements, possibly necessary for construction.  2. Artillery rocket, with instantaneous or delayed operation selection and trajectory safety, constructed according to the method of claim 1., characterized in that it results from the assembly of standardized functional subassemblies constituted, the first by a rocket body in the shape of a warhead 1, pierced with an axial channel 2 and having a manual means of selection 3 of the operating type accessible from the outside, the second by a percussion assembly 4 inserted at the tip of warhead, the third by a block for delayed operation initiator 5 to unlock and put into active position by centrifugal force, the fourth by an arming security group 6- unlocked and actuated by centrifugal force, with self-timer mechanism 7 , to establish a pyrotechnic chain from the percussion unit to the detonator 8 and release the end of the primer block 5, by a relay primer 9 brought axially at the end of the race, the fifth by a closure plug 10 with a locking bolt 11 of the clock mechanism 7 of the arming safety group 6, unlockable by inertia, crossed by a relay primer 12, and the sixth by a detonator 8.  3. Rocket, according to claim 2, characterized in that the percussion assembly comprises an axial striker rod 13 passing through the rocket body 1, and the primer holder block 5 comprises two primers, one for instantaneous operation 14 , the other for delayed operation 15, the means of selection 3 of the type of operation carried by the rocket body 1 limiting the stroke of the primer holder block 5 to bring, depending on the selected selection, instant primer 14 or the delay primer 15 in the axis of the striker 13, each primer being housed in a channel crossing the primer holder block.  4. Rocket, according to claim 2, characterized in that the percussion assembly 4 comprises an instantaneous primer of warhead 16 housed at the end of the axial channel 2 passing through the rocket body 1, and the delay primer block 5 is crossed by a canA 17, one axially movable tubular end 18 of which is housed at the end of travel of the primer holder block 5 in a housing 19 hollowed out in the end of the axial channel 2 of the rocket body, the means for selecting the type of operation 3 carried by the rocket body 1 allowing at will to leave free the axial channel 2 of the rocket body for instant operation or to close it for delayed operation.  5. Rocket, according to claim 4, characterized in that the tubular end 18 carried by the primer holder block 5 comes to lock at the end of the race the means 3 for selecting the type of operation in the rocket body 1.  6. Rocket according to claim 4, characterized in that the primer holder block 5 brings the delayed operating primer 15 at the end of the race opposite an auxiliary striker 20 which it strikes by inertia on impact, this delay primer 15 being housed in an auxiliary channel 21 opening into the channel 17 passing through the primer holder block 5.  7. Artillery rocket, instantaneous operation and trajectory safety, built according to the method of claim l, characterized in that it results from the assembly of standardized elements formed, the first by a rocket body la form of warhead-pierced with an axial channel 2, the second by a percussion assembly 4 inserted at the point of a warhead, the third by a non-functional constructive connecting element 22 substituting a primer holder block and constituted by a block 22 pierced with an axial channel 23, the fourth by a weapon safety group 6 unlocked and actuated by centrifugal force, with self-timer mechanism 7, to establish a pyrotechnic chain from the percussion unit to the detonator 8 , by a relay primer 9 brought axially at the end of the race, the fifth by a closure cap lo with a locking bolt 11 of the clockwork mechanism 7 of the armament safety group 6, unlockable by inertia, crossed by a primer rela is 12, and the sixth by a detonator 8.  8. Artillery rocket with instantaneous operation and tube safety, built according to the method of claim 1, characterized in that it results from the assembly of standardized elements made up, the first by a rocket body la in shape warhead pierced with an axial channel 2, the second by a percussion assembly 4 inserted at the point of a warhead, the third by a non-functional constructive connecting element 22 substituting a primer holder block and constituted by a block 22 pierced with an axial channel 23, the fourth by an armament security group 6a unlocked and actuated by centrifugal force to establish, by a relay primer 9 brought axially at the end of the race without delay, a pyrotechnic chain of the percussion unit 4 to the detonator 8, the fifth by a closure plug 10 with a locking bolt 11 of the clock mechanism 7 of the armament security group 6, unlockable by inertia, crossed by a relay primer 12, and the sixth published n detonator 8.  9. Rocket according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the percussion assembly 4 comprises an axial striker rod 13 passing through the rocket body la and the connecting element 22.  lo. Rocket according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the percussion assembly 4 comprises an instantaneous primer of warhead 16 housed at the end of the axial channel 2 passing through the rocket body la.  11. modular constructive elements assemblable for the construction of rockets according to one of claims 2 to 10 by implementing the method of claim 1, characterized in that they comprise functional elements of various types standardized and interchangeable in each category of function, consisting of rocket bodies 1, la1 of percussion sets 4, delay primer blocks 5, armament safety groups 6, 6a, closure plugs 10, detonators 8, as well as functional ivn elements substitutable for functional elements of at least one function category.