FR2662242A1 - Safety device for a weapon system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an ignition device for a weapon system. It comprises: - a striker (10); - a fuse-carrying slide (8) movable from a safety position, in which the fuse (9) is out of alignment with the striker, into an ignition position, in which the fuse is aligned with the striker and is struck automatically; - locking means (27, 28) for keeping the slide in the safety position; - activation means (5, 29) for unlocking the said locking means; - neutralisation means for blocking the slide in the safety position at the end of a predetermined time after its activation; and - restoring means for returning the device to its initial state from its neutralised state.

Description

 The present invention relates to a firing system for a weapon system, and more particularly for mines or for zone defense weapon systems.

 The device of the invention is particularly applicable to a weapon system comprising a launcher tube capable of firing an anti-tank rocket, a device for detection and recognition of target, and a device for security and firing of the propellant charge of rocket.

 It is known to prohibit the crossing, for example of armored vehicles, of certain zones by means of either passive mines or defense devices based on mines with horizontal action capable of attacking an armored vehicle from a distance or on rockets pulled by a launcher tube. These mines or rockets are fired after the target detection and recognition device has given the firing order. The detectors can be seismic, acoustic, optical or thermal or combine several operating modes, and are coupled to a standby device.

It is more and more desirable to be able to move these defense systems according to the strategic data of the moment. So this supposes that we can
- install the burdensome charges (mines or rockets) while keeping them in a safe state of storage and transport with a view to a possible subsequent displacement,
- exercise by means of the detector, a watch of predetermined duration, preferably programmable,
- ignite the burdensome charges when the target passes,
- make the system harmless at will in order to move it and reuse it,
- reuse the system under the same conditions, if possible as many times as desired.

The present invention aims to provide a firing device capable of being used on such a weapon system. To this end, the subject of the invention is a firing device for a weapon system, characterized in that it comprises
- a striker,
- a movable primer carrier slide from a safety position where the primer is misaligned with respect to the striker to a firing position or the primer is aligned with the striker and automatically struck,
- locking means to keep the bucket grout in the safety position,
activation means for unlocking said locking means,
neutralization means for locking the slide in the safety position after a predetermined time after its activation, and
- means of restoration to return the device to its initial state from its neutralized state.

 The locking means may comprise a first locking member engaging in a housing of the slide, said first member being actuable using an operating button.

 They can also include a second locking member also engaging in a housing of the slide, said second member being actuable by means of timing.

 In this case, means can advantageously be provided to cause the timing means to be engaged by the operating button.

 In a particular embodiment, the device according to 1 invention comprises elastic means for bringing the slide from its safety position to its firing position, a firing trigger device having a retractable finger engaging in a housing of the slide to maintain it in its safety position against the action of said elastic means.

 Preferably, said operating button has a test position in which, the said locking member or members are engaged in their respective housing of the slide, the positioning of the operating button in its test position connecting electrical circuits for controlling the device.

 In a particular embodiment of the invention, the neutralization means comprise a shoe movable from an operating position where it allows the displacement of the slide from its safety position to its firing position, to a neutralization position where it blocks the slide in its safety position, and means for controlling the movement of the movable shoe from its operating position to its neutralization position after said predetermined time.

 The shoe can in particular have a ramp capable of pushing a ball into a notch in the bucket grout when the shoe is in its neutralization position.

 The means for controlling the movement of the movable shoe can include elastic means for bringing the shoe from its operating position to its neutralization position, a neutralization member having a retractable finger engaging in a housing of the shoe to keep it in its operating position against the action of said elastic means.

 An electric switch can also be provided to cooperate with said shoe to cut off the electrical supply to the device when the shoe is in its neutralization position.

 The restoration means may include means for bringing said shoe from its neutralization position to its operating position.

The invention therefore makes it possible to ensure the following functions
- safety of storage and transport, sources of energy of the system, - test of functioning and state of the batteries at the time of the implementation of the load,
- pre-arming during which the system is not fully operational, a time delay allowing the operator time to take shelter,
- standby according to a variable and programmable duration, for example from a few hours to several tens of days,
- possible ignition of the charge,
- neutralization in order to render the weapon system harmless and to allow the charge to move if necessary,
- reactivation while retaining all of the original functions without factory intervention.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended schematic drawings in which
FIG. I is a sectional view along line II of FIG. 5,
FIG. 2 is a front view of the device,
FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of FIG. 6,
FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the line VV in FIG. 1,
FIG. 6 is a sectional view along line VI-VI of FIG. 4,
FIG. 7 is a sectional view along line VII-VII of FIG. 5,
FIG. 8 is a view of the primer holder slide,
FIG. 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX in FIG. 1, and
- Figure 10 is a front view of a variant of the invention.

 The device according to the invention takes place in a metal bowl I closed by a cover 2 provided with a seal 3, said cover being held in known manner by flanges not shown.

 A body 4, made for example from molded plastic, supports a watch movement 5 and a battery of electrical contact strips 6a and 6b.

 This housing further comprises a housing 7 intended to receive an energy source, not shown, constituted for example by batteries or accumulators.

 As shown, the. device is in storage / transport security configuration.

 The body 4 also receives, in a sliding manner, a slider 8 for supporting a primer 9, and a striker 10 disposed relative to the slider opposite and opposite a priming relay 11.

In the position shown in the drawings, the initiating pyrotechnic chain is interrupted by the fact that the initiator 9 is not opposite the striker 10 and the initiating relay ll.

 The bucket grout 8 has, in its face directed towards the striker 10 and around the primer 9, a recess 12 with a diameter slightly greater than that of the striker 10.

 Furthermore, the striker 10 is pushed back by a spring 13 against the slide 8.

 The slide further comprises three notches 14, 15 and 16 whose functions will be described below.

 A spring 17 tends to push the bucket grout 8 upwards in FIG. 1, that is to say to bring the primer 9 opposite the striker 10 and the priming relay ll.

 Referring now to FIG. 7, it can be seen that the slide 8 has a notch 18 capable of receiving a ball 19 passing through a web of the body 4 separating the slide 8 from a neutralizing shoe 20.

 This shoe is also pushed up in Figures 1 and 4 using a spring 21 and a ramp 22 pushes the ball 19 into the notch 18 during such an upward movement.

 The upper end of the shoe 20 can also separate the contacts 23 and 24 from an electrical switch enabling the electrical supply to the device to be switched off.

Returning to FIG. 1, it can be seen that a pyrotechnic firing control device 25 has a retractable finger 26 engaged in the notch 14. (re "reactor)
Furthermore, a cam 27 is engaged in the notch 15 and a cam 28 is engaged in the notch 16. The role of these cams 27 and 28 and of the retractor 25 will be specified later.

 An operating button 29 is mounted to rotate in the body 4. It can also also slide axially while being pushed back to the low position in FIG. 1, that is to say towards the outside of the device, by a spring. 30.

 The button 29 is arranged to rotate a toothed sector 31 whose rotation is limited by its edge 32 capable of coming into abutment on a flat 33 of a support piece 34 (Figure 3).

 This support piece 34 allows the assembly of printed circuits 35 and 36 and a wheel 37, arranged between these printed circuits and driven by the toothed sector 31.

The wheel 37 supports two electrical contacts 38 and 39 each consisting of two metal cups 40 which tend to spread a spring which consequently plates them on the printed circuits 3 5 and 3
These printed circuits include tracks 42 and 43 whose function will be described below.

 In the position shown in the drawing, the rotation of the button 29 is limited by the stops 32 and 33, the spring 30 also holding the sector 3 in a housing 44 of the support piece 34.

 Furthermore, a seal 45 seals between the button 29 and the bore 46 of the housing 1 in which it rotates.

 We also see in FIG. 1, a tenon 47 secured to the sector 31.

 Referring now to Figure 5, we see that the cam 28 has a groove 48 and a heel 49 whose functions will be described below.

 The cam 28 also meshes with a wheel 50 of the watch movement 5.

 In addition, the cam 28 has on its outer surface a decement 51 capable of letting off the toothed wheel 50. The cam 28 also comprises a boss 52 capable of cooperating with the lug 47 of the sector 31 as will be described below .

 A connecting piece 53 is disposed between the cams 27 and 28 and has a boss 54 capable of cooperating with a bearing surface 55 of the cam 27 (FIG. 6).

 Finally, the cam 27 has a heel 56 whose role will be described below.

 If we now refer to FIG. 4, we see that the body 4 also supports an electromagnet 57 whose finger 58 can engage in a notch 59 of the shoe 20.

 This electromagnet 57 is supplied, like the pyrotechnic retractor 25 and the contact 24, from a rotary contactor 60 traversed by metal pins 61 (FIG. 6) capable of connecting the contacts 6a and 6b.

 This FIG. 4 also shows a toothed output wheel 62 of the watch movement 5 meshing with the toothed part of the cam 27.

 The shoe 20 is extended by a rod 63 screwed to the lower end of this shoe in FIG. 4.

 The rod -63 crosses the bolt mill 1 through a seal 64 and has at its end a head 65 protected by a rib 66 of the housing 1. A stop 67 limits the stroke of the shoe 20 so as to avoid deformation of the flexible contact 23 beyond its elastic limit.

 The shoe 20 also has, on its face comprising the notch 59, a ramp 68 whose function will be described below.

If we now refer to FIG. 2, we see the operating button 29 with its three possible positions S (safety), T (test) and
PA (pre-arming).

 It can also be seen that this operating button has a notch 69 whose role will be described below.

 The operating button 29 is protected by a transparent cover 70 articulated around an axis 71 passing through an elongated opening 72 of the housing 1, this opening opening of the cover in two stages: translation first, to release the cover from a rib 73 of the housing, then rotation for a complete opening.

The seal between the cover 70 and the rib 73 is ensured by a seal 74.

 We will now describe the operation of this device.

 Before the weapon system is put into service, the device being in the safety position shown in the drawing, the operator has the possibility of ensuring that all of the electrical circuits and related functions are operational without you might as well change the device's security status To this end, it suffices to bring the operating button 29 opposite the mark T of the housing 1 by turning in the direction indicated by the arrow (FIG. 2). At this moment, the toothed sector 31 drives the wheel 37 (FIG. 3), which brings the cups of the electrical contact 38 into contact with the tracks 42 of the printed circuits 35 and 36, which has the effect of connecting the electrical circuits of the organs to control.

 In the test phase, the rotation of the button 29 is limited by the sector 31 whose edge 32 abuts on the flat 33 of the support piece 34. Thus, the rotation of the button 29 is strictly limited to the stroke necessary for the test.

 If the test does not immediately precede the commissioning of the weapon system, the operator can return the button 29 to the safety position S. The device then finds itself in a configuration identical to that at the start.

 When commissioning, the operator brings the operating button 29 to the test position (T on the housing 1) then presses it against the action of the spring 30 and rotates it in the direction indicated by the arrow to the pre-arming position marked PA on the housing 1.

Button 29 can only be pressed once it is in position
T, the pin 47 of the sector 31 then being located opposite the groove 48 of the cam 28. and the sector 31 coming to bear on a flat 44 of the support piece 34, which allows the button 29 to be held against the spring action 30.

During this operation:
- the pin 4-7 of the sector 31 penetrates into the groove 48 of the cam 28 and drives the latter in rotation by an angle such that, due to its flat 75, it comes out of the groove 16 of the slide-8, thus releasing partially this slide.

 - The rotation of the cam 28 entrains that of the wheel 50 of the clockwork movement 5 to raise the latter, until the recess 51 of the cam 28 comes into view of this wheel 50 and lets it escape. The watch movement 5 is then initialized and can operate freely for a determined duration, for example 5 m during which 11 operator can safely move away from the weapon system whose arming will only be effective at the end of the time delay.

 - the rotation of the cam 28 also causes that of the connecting piece 53.

 - the sector 31 drives the wheel 37. In the pre-arming position, the cups of the electrical contact 38 are in contact with the tracks 43 of the printed circuits 35 and 36 while the cups of the second electrical contact 39 identical to the previous one are in contact with the tracks 42 of these same printed circuits. An electrical circuit is thus established for the commissioning of the detection device, and in particular for the triggering of the electronic timing (not shown) determining the standby period.

 The angular movement of the button 29 is limited by the sector 31 whose edge 32 abuts on a flat 76 formed in the support part 34.

 During the pre-arming delay, the rotary switch 60 rotates so that at the end of the delay, the pins 61 connect the contacts 6a and 6b. All the electrical circuits necessary for the operation of the device are then established.

 At the same time, the toothed wheel 62 drives the cam 27 which gradually comes out of the groove 15 of the slide 8, due to its flat 77.

 The device is then armed in the standby state, the slide 8 only being retained by the finger 26 of the retractor 25.

The role of heels 49 and 56 of cams 28 and 27 is to compensate before putting into service
a possible unexpected operation of the retractor 25 / Indeed, in this case, the slide 8 would shift slightly so that it comes to cover these heels and thus prevent the rotation of the cams 27 and 28. It should be noted that, under these conditions , the device is disabled and cannot be reset without factory intervention.

 During the standby period, if a target crosses the detection field, the pyrotechnic retractor 25 receives an electrical signal which makes it operate. His finger 26 disappears and releases the slide 8 which, under the impulse of its spring 17, moves upwards in FIG. 1 and brings the primer 9 in the axis of the priming relay 11 and the striker 10.

This striker is then located opposite the recess 12 of the slide 8 and can then, under the impulse of its spring 13, initiate the primer 9 and consequently, the priming relay 11 and the propellant charge of the rocket (not shown).

 If, on the other hand, no target crosses the detection field during the standby period, at the end of this period, the detection module energizes the electromagnet 57 whose finger 58 is erased and releases the shoe 20 which, under the thrust of the spring 21, moves upwards in FIG. 4 and comes to press on the flexible strip 23, which moves away from the fixed strip 24, which has the effect of switching off the power supply electric of the device and in particular that of the retractor 25. At the same time, the ramp 22 of the shoe 20 pushes the ball 19 into the notch 18 of the slide 8. The latter is then immobilized in the body 4 and the device is neutralized. In this position, the finger 58 of the electromagnet 57 is housed at the bottom of the ramp 68 of the shoe 20.

 In terms of security, it will be noted that, except in the event of voluntary ignition, the primer 9 is never in the axis of the striker.

 At the end of the shoe 20, the head 65 of the rod 63 is completely concealed by the rib 66 on the one hand and by the imprint 69 of the button 29 on the other hand. Gripping with this bare hand is then impossible and the entire device is completely immobilized, the button 29 blocked.

 It will be noted that the position of the button 29 on the pre-arming allows the shank of the shoe 20 to slide, 11 recess 69 allowing the head 65 of this shank to pass. Consequently, premature operation of the electromagnet 57 would result in neutralization immediately perceptible by the operator responsible for the implementation.

 At this stage, the electrical supply being cut off, the slider 8 is immobilized, the primer misaligned without the possibility of manual release, therefore of false operation, the device neutralized in the safe state. It is then possible to transport or store it for later use.

 This device can be reused without any particular maintenance operation. It suffices for this, using a special tool cooperating with an imprint not shown of the head 65 of the rod 63, to extract this rod from its housing between the button 29 and the rib 66, and to bring the button 29 in the safety position.

 During this operation, the shoe 20 loosens the ball 19 and therefore the slide 8, the latter being nevertheless still held by the finger 26 of the retractor 25. The strip 23 returns to contact with the strip 24 and closes the supply circuit. The ramp 68 allows the finger 58 of the electromagnet 57 to disappear during the movement of the shoe 20 and then to return to its initial place.

 The rotation of the button 29 entralne that of the sector 31 and the wheel 37 which return to their original safety position, the contacts 38 and 39 being disconnected.

 The rotation of the button 29 also causes that of the cam 28 by means of the pin 47 of the sector 31 engaged in the groove 48 of the cam 28.

As soon as the section 32 of the sector 31 arrives at the right of the flat 33 of the support piece 34 ,,; The spring 30 pushes the button 29 and the tenon
tette last is no longer held by the flat 44 47 out of the groove 48. However, the rotation of the cam 28 can continue thanks to its boss 52 that causes the pin 47 of the sector 18. The cam 28 then returns to its position original security engaged in the groove 16 of the slide 8. Furthermore, it meshes again with the wheel 50 of the watch movement 5.

 When the device is armed, the connecting piece 53 has rotated at the same time as the button 29 and its boss 54 has freed the range 55 from the cam 27 which will then be able to rotate under the action of the watch movement 5. Consequently, at the end of the pre-arming delay, the bearing surface 55 of the cam 27 will again be facing the boss 54. During the resetting operation, the boss 54 returns by relying on the bearing 55 the cam 27 in the safety position, that is to say engaged in the notch 15 of the slide 8. During this movement, the cam 27 controls by means of the toothed wheel 62, the rotation of the contactor 60 and the electrical circuits between contacts 6a and 6b broken.

The device is then in a configuration strictly in accordance with the original security configuration. We see indeed that we have
- button 29 with regard to position S,
- the cams 27 and 28 engaged in the slide 8,
- the power supply circuit restored to its original condition,
- the retractor 25 (not working) available,
- the test and pre-arming functions also available,
- the neutralization device again able to operate.

 It can therefore be seen that the device according to the invention has a very high level of security, in particular thanks to a permanent misalignment of the pyrotechnic chain, numerous redundancies making it possible, if an organ is faulty, that others replace it at least until the operator in charge of the implementation is safe.

 In addition, the actions on the locks are different in nature, the spring of the watch movement is only bandaged during arming, the electrical connections are only established after a safety delay and, the locks being mostly mechanical, the system is not very sensitive to radiation, especially since the only element that can be affected by it, namely the retractor, would be replaced if necessary by the heels of the two cams.

 The neutralization indicator is perfectly visible, avoiding dangerous handling and the installation of the device is easy by means of a single button.

 The size of the device is reduced and its re-use is possible as many times as desired, the number of these re-uses being solely dependent on the autonomy of the electric power source.

 In the variant of FIG. 10, it can be seen that an additional button 78 has been provided for directly controlling the neutralization by acting on the electromagnet 55. This arrangement allows permanent standby and neutralization at any time.

 It is also possible to combine the two neutralization possibilities and thus allow the latter during the standby phase.

 Likewise, it is perfectly conceivable to control the neutralization remotely by means of an appropriate device.

Claims (11)

 1 - Firing device for weapon system, characterized in that it comprises  - a striker (10)  - A slide (8) mobile primer holder from a safety position where the primer (9) is misaligned with respect to the striker to a firing position where the primer is aligned with the striker and automatically struck;  - locking means (27, 28) to keep the bucket grout in the safety position  - activation means (5, 29) for unlocking said locking means;  - neutralization means (20) for blocking the slide in the safety position after a predetermined time after its activation; and  - restoration means (65) for returning the device to its initial state from its neutralized state.  2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means comprise a first locking member (28) engaging in a housing (16) of the slide, said first member being actuable using a operating button (29).  3 - Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said locking means comprise a second locking member (27) engaging in a housing (15) of the bucket grout, said second member being actuable by means of timing (5).  4 - Device according to all of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that means are provided to cause the engagement of the delay means by the operating button.  5 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises elastic means (17) for bringing the slide from its safety position to its fired position, a device (25) triggering firing having a retractable finger (26) engaging in a housing (14) of the slide to maintain it in its safety position against the action of said elastic means.  6 - Device according to any one of claims 2 and 4, characterized in that said operating button has a test position (T) in which the said locking member (s) are engaged in their respective housing of the slide, the positioning of the operating button in its test position connecting electrical circuits controlling the device.  7 - Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said means of neutralization comprise a shoe (20) movable from a safety position where it allows the movement of the grout bucket from its position of non operating in its fired position, in a neutralizing position where it blocks the slide in its safety position, and means (57) for controlling the movement of the movable shoe from its operating position to its neutralized position at the end of said predetermined time.  8 - Device according to claim 7, characterized in that said shoe has a ramp (22) adapted to push a ball (19) in a notch (18) of the slide when the shoe is in its neutralization position.  9 - Device according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that it has elastic means (21) for bringing the shoe from its operating position to its neutralization position, a neutralization member (57) having a retractable finger (58) engaging in a housing (59) of the shoe to maintain it in its operating position against the action of said elastic means.  10 - Device according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it has an electric switch (23,24) arranged to cooperate with said shoe to switch off the electrical supply of the device when the shoe is in its neutralizing position.  11 - Device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that said restoration means comprise means for returning said shoe from its neutralization position to its operating position.