FR2723115A1 - PYROTECHNICAL TOOLS PROJECTOR - Google Patents

Abstract

A pyrotechnic firing device for tools connected to a firing plunger movably mounted in a launch tube. The device consists of an inner barrel or frame (1), and a firing gas generator (9) housed in a modular breech (7) at one end of the launch tube (5) secured to a weight (3) which receives the recoil on the breech (7) during firing and is connected to one end of a damping cylinder (6) between the frame (1) and the weight (3). The device is useful as an easily adaptable and convertible firing device capable of being fitted with a wide variety of tools.

Description

 Claude Waitzenegger and Bernard Castagner filed in March 1989 a patent for an anchoring system in the ground by using the energy delivered by a gas generator and whose recoil balancing is ensured by the effect gravity on the launch structure acting as an acoustic protector (Le Pyro-Ancreur).

 Bernard Castagner filed in December 1990 a patent for a system for measuring soil characteristics by sinking a probe rod, the speed of which is made thanks to the energy delivered by a gas generator and whose evolution the speed of penetration into the ground is measured continuously by an electromagnetic assembly (Le Pyvers).

 Other needs have been expressed by different building trades and public works, in particular, relating to compaction, coring, digging point foundations, etc ...

 The present invention relates to a modular pyrotechnic tool projection system using the energy delivered by a gas generator and the recoil balance of which is ensured by the effect of gravity on the launch structure as in the patent. of the anchoring driving system, but whose mechanical design and its adaptability, the design of gas generators and their modularity, the reduction of nuisances from gases, the fallout system of the launch structure and its damping, the system for loading heavy tools, the possibility of speed measuring equipment as for the dynamic pyrotechnic penetrometer, present innovations alone or in combination with existing patents.

 The originality of the design of the pyrotechnic tool projection system by gas generator, object of this patent will emerge from its description, from the justification of the techniques used.

 The present invention therefore relates to a pyrotechnic projection equipment for tools, equipped with a high-speed piston interface from a launching tube in which a pressure created by the gases emitted by a gas generator develops. propellant powder.

 According to the invention, for the sake of reliability and safety, this gas generator is placed in a combustion chamber and its initiation system preferably located outside the launch tube and outside the projected tool or its piston. launch.

 According to the invention, the presence of a modular cylinder head housing allows, in the same material, the use of gas generators of different diameters, therefore of different masses of propellant powder, which will be adapted to the energy necessary for the proper functioning of each tool. The handle of the modular cylinder head housing facilitates the introduction and especially the extraction after operation of the gas generator in its combustion chamber.

 According to the invention, the caliber of the launch tube is adaptable to the diameter of the projected tool or of its tool holder by introduction and blocking of tubes of smaller diameters.

 In order to limit the noise nuisance, any projections of floor covering and the efforts on the closing gate of the equipment, necessary for safety, the launching tube is, according to the invention, equipped with side vents to eject the main part of the gas up in the muffler formed by the equipment frame.

 The launch tube and its ballast structure are free in vertical recoil and this ensures, thanks to the effect of gravity, the balance of the amount of movement provided to the projected tool.

 According to the invention, the damping of the fallout of the launch tube and its ballast structure is ensured by a synchronized gas spring which deploys following the launch tube to reach it at the top of its vertical path and brake its descent by controlled transfer of gases between the two chambers of the jack.

 The adaptation of the speed of rise of the jack, the retaining force applied to the launching tube and its ballast structure, and the speed of descent of these, is carried out using single or double calibrated vents cylinder passage and inflation pressure.

 In order to avoid the effects of fouling of gases from the generator, on the percussion system, the percussion initiation system is according to the invention preferably mounted on a set of studs (63) allowing any excess gas leaving from the firing hole of the striker, to go towards the outside of the system - an elastic waterproofing membrane can complete the protection.

 According to the invention, the loading or placing of heavy tools is done using a cable axially passing through the launch tube. According to the invention, the sprayers of heavy tools are equipped with an offset combustion chamber to allow the passage of cable which is preferably wound on a drum using an electric motor. The cable is equipped at its end with a disengageable clamp either mechanically under the effect of traction due to the pressure of the gases, or electrically, or under the effect of the pressure contained in the launching tube.

 According to the invention, the equipment can be equipped with a speed measurement tube according to the Pyvers patent - by fixing the composite measurement tube on a rigid structure made of non-magnetic and non-conductive composite materials, it will make the connection between the gate and the connecting tube.

 According to the invention, the pyrotechnic tool projection system is preferably mounted on a tracked carrier, but it can, without departing from the invention, be portable for small models, be mounted on a wheeled carrier with or without motorized or on the back of a truck or pickup or on a rail car. According to the invention, a quick attachment system on the arms of a public works machine, such as a backhoe, makes it an interchangeable tool with the buckets.

According to the invention, the pyrotechnic tool projection system can be loaded either vertically or horizontally. The folding for loading or transport is according to the invention, preferably done by a mechanical system like wheel and worm screw driven by an electric motor. However, without departing from the invention, all movement generation systems can be applied, such as hydraulic cylinders and motor, wheel and transmission chain.
The description which follows is purely illustrative and not limiting. It should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

 Figure 1 is a sectional view of the pyrotechnic sprayer system of tools.

 Figure 2 is a 90 "sectional view of Figure 1 of the pyrotechnic tool system.

 Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional views of the combustion chamber sub-assembly.

 FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are sectional views of the pyrotechnic projecting system of tools equipped with the "Pyvers" measuring system and the "Pyvers" measuring probe rod.

 Figure 7 is a sectional view of the pyrotechnic sprayer system of tools with caliber reduction tube in the launch tube.

 Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 are sectional views of the pyrotechnic tool sprayer system with different tools - plate compactor, punch compactor, tube for explosive charge, core tube - cable guide tube earthen".

 Figure 14 is a sectional view of the pyrotechnic sprayer system of heavy tools with loading by axial rope.

 Figure 15 is a sectional view of the gas generator.

Description of the material
The preferably cylindrical frame (1) of the tool pyrotechnic sprayer is equipped with a gate (2).

The launching structure consists of the ballast mass (3) which serves as a guide element for the launching structure in the frame (1) when the latter recedes, the bottom of the expansion chamber (4) and the launch tube (5).

 The synchronized gas spring (6) is deployed during the ascent of the launch structure and serves as a shock absorber when the structure descends.

 The vents (17) made in the launch tube (5) allow the propellant gases to escape upwards, before the tool leaves its launch tube, in the "silencer" delimited by the reducing frame nuisance due to noise and those due to possible projections of floor covering.

 The launching tube (5) has a groove (20) in which is mounted an elastic polygonal ring (19) for blocking the tool to be launched.

 The launch tube (5) can receive launch tubes (21) of smaller diameters suitable for ejecting tools or tool holders of smaller diameters.

 The combustion chamber assembly receiving the gas generator (9) consists of a body (7), a plate (8) pierced with exhaust orifices (18) for combustion gases, a housing loading aid breech (10) allowing both the use of different types of gas generators and their easy extraction from the body (7) using the grip handle (11) in the shape of a spout. The cover (15) closes the chamber by translation in grooves (16).

 The initiation system is preferably produced by percussion using an electromagnet (12) equipped with a fixed or adjustable striker (13).

 The electrical connection (14) between the electromagnet and the energy source is made, for example, by an extensible spiral wire. The electromagnet can be replaced by another percussion system such as a pneumatic cylinder, a spring-hydraulic cylinder assembly, a spring which is manually or electrically tensioned ...

 In the case of a laser or electric ignition, the electromagnet is replaced by a laser source or the arrival of an electric source.

 The gas generator is composed of a housing (25) preferably made of composite materials such as thermoplastic or thermosetting resin loaded or not with fibers, cardboard This housing includes a case (26) which will contain the ignition powder (27) and a percussion primer (28), with laser ignition or with electric ignition.

 The housing (25) contains the propellant powder (31) generating gas.

 A keying pin (30) allows the generator to be positioned in its cylinder head aid for loading (10).

 The cover (29) has, depending on the generator model, more or less pre-embrittled cells (32) which, by shearing in the orifices (18) of the plate (8), will allow the calibrated passage of the propulsion gases in function of the propellant powder mass (31).

 According to the invention, the cable (22) for loading heavy tools is equipped at its end with a disengageable clamp (23) and a gas support and sealing plate (24).

 In the case of a mechanically disengageable pliers under the effect of the pulling of the tool on the wire, the ejection phenomenon can be diagrammed as follows: the pressure generated in the launching tube (5) maintains the plate d 'support (24) on the bottom of the tube and pushes on the bottom of the piston of the tool, under the effect of the traction of the wire thus stretched, the clamp (23) opens.

 Without departing from the invention, the clamp can also be provided with an opening system under gas pressure in the launching tube.

 According to the invention, the tool pyrotechnic sprayer can be equipped with the measurement tube (40) of the evolution of the speed of the tool equipped with a magnet (44) such as the probe rod (43 ) of the dynamic pyrotechnic penetrometer.

 According to the invention, this measuring tube (40) equipped with solenoids (42) is connected to the gate (2) by a composite structure (41) homogeneous or non-conductive and non-conductive sandwich type.

 The relative positions of the opening of the tube, of the gate and of the rotation hinge make it possible, when the gate is opened, to release the split measurement tube from a probe rod or from a tool which is not fully inserted.

 According to the invention, the tool pyrotechnic sprayer can be equipped with a plate compactor tool (45). This tool consists of a launch tube (46) closed at its upper end and carrying at its lower end a compacting plate (47) reinforced by stiffeners (48). The shape of the plate is preferably circular, rectangular or square, but can have any other shape without departing from the invention. This tool is used for compacting soils and particularly for embankments and trenches. The high energy communicated by the gas generator allows very efficient compaction.

 According to the invention, the tool pyrotechnic sprayer can be equipped with a punch compactor tool (49). This tool consists of a launching tube (50) extended by a compacting tube (51) preferably cylindrical of the same diameter or of different diameter, preferably terminated by a perforation aid tip (52).

 Without departing from the invention, one can have another geometry for the compaction tube or its tip. We can also not have a point but a flat bottom. This tool is used to make holes whose walls are compacted. In the case of a specific concrete foundation, the bearing capacity of the concrete studs is significantly improved for the same foundation volume.

 According to the invention, the tool sprayer can be equipped with a coring tube (53). This tool consists of a launching tube (54) closed at the top by a quick-closing plug (55) (56), the opening of which allows the coring block to be ejected.

 The launch tube (54) is preferably the coring tube, but without departing from the invention, a tube of different diameter can extend the launch tube to carry out cores of different diameters according to the caliber of the launch tube.

 The core tube is terminated by a smooth section (57) or by an overhanging knife (58). Without departing from the invention, it can be equipped with various systems for assisting in the shearing of the core fitted to the standard coring tubes. This tool is used to carry out soil analysis cores or preferably cylindrical holes by taking the soil core.

 According to the invention, the tool pyrotechnic sprayer can be equipped with a tube for burying an explosive or propellant charge (59). This tube (59) consists of a rod (60) preferably hollow closed at its upper part, surrounded by a tube (61) preferably made of plastic material or cardboard and terminated by a conical end piece (62) to aid penetration. This is preferably with an overhanging section.

 After penetration into the ground, the tube (60) is removed. The outer tube (61) and the conical tip remain in the ground. The pyrotechnic charge is introduced into the channel made free by the extraction of the rod (60). Without departing from the invention, the channel thus created can be used to bury other elements, materials or equipment than pyrotechnic charges.

 According to the invention, the tool pyrotechnic projector can be equipped with a rod tool (33) for a grounding cable (34) which allows the insertion of this cable.

Preferably, this guide rod will have an L-shaped or
T, however, without departing from the invention, any other profile may be used.

 The extra length of connection of the cable (35) will preferably be coiled in the piston head (36).

 Without departing from the invention, the tool pyrotechnic designer can project tools or tools recoverable or consumable in the ground, in materials or structures, such as walls, paving, road surfaces.

 To illustrate these applications achievable according to the invention, with the pyrotechnic tool projector, the following non-limiting example will be taken: the pyrotechnic tool projector can project into a road surface a hollow rod (37) closed at its inner end (39) and pierced with side holes (38). This tool, thus projected, can serve as a resin injection channel or concrete for sealing resin for cables or superstructures.

Claims (7)

1) Pyrotechnic designer of high speed and high tools  energy, characterized in that the various tools equipped  of a piston interface are projected under the effect of the  pressure delivered by a gas generator (9) placed in a  modular cylinder head (10) with extraction assisted by a spout  grip (11), and in that the recoil balancing is  ensured by the effect of gravity on the structure of  launch, the fallout of which is absorbed by a gas spring  synchronized deployment (6). 2) Pyrotechnic tool designer according to claim 1  characterized in that the gas generator sub-assembly (9)  and its initiation system are outside the tube of  launch (5) and the tool. 3) Pyrotechnic tool designer according to one of the reven  dications 1 and 2, characterized in that the launch tube  has side vents (17) for ejecting gases before the  removal of the tool from its launch tube (5). 4) Pyrotechnic tool designer according to one of the reven  dications 1 to 3, characterized in that the launch tube  (5) is modular by adding sub-calibrated tube  pull-out (21). 5) Pyrotechnic tool designer according to one of the reven  dications 1 to 4, characterized in that the system  gas generator percussion initiation is separate  of the cylinder head (10) receiving the generator (9), by a part  with vents (63) for ejecting gases to prevent fouling  of the initiation system. 6) Pyrotechnic tool designer according to one of the reven  dications 1 to 5, characterized in that the system of  heavy tools are loaded using a cable (22)  passing axially through the launch tube, fitted with a  gripping pliers (23) disengageable under the effect of  pressure in the launch tube and a plate  sealing (24) serving as a support element for the  declutching. 7) Pyrotechnic tool designer according to one of the reven  dications 1 to 6, characterized in that it is equipped with the following tools: plate compactor (45), punch compactor (49), coring tube (53), burial tube (59), injector (37) , penetrometer probe rod (43), "earth" cable carrying rod (33).