FR2789484A1 - Non-lethal self-defense weapon, for person under attack, consists of projectile containing inflatable balloon, which is deployed by explosive charge on hitting target - Google Patents

Abstract

The projectile (1) has a flat base (3) and a conical nose-cone (2), and is thrown toward the target by exploding a small charge of explosive under the base. The projectile is accommodated, before launching, in a short mortar-type barrel. When the projectile reaches the neighborhood of the target the gasbag (7) is inflated with gas or fluid produced by a generator in the base of the projectile. The flexible bag carries a number of hard discs (14), distributed around its outer surface.

Description

l

  DEFENSE DEVICE WITH REDUCED LETHALITY

  The technical field of the invention is that of defense devices with reduced lethality.

  In order to allow a gradual response both in the field of law enforcement and in that of site protection, today we are developing more and more so-called "non-lethal" defense systems. These devices ensure the stunning or deterrence of an individual and are designed to

  cause little or no injury.

  They either allow the threat to flee or temporarily neutralize it, allowing conventional law enforcement to intervene. In the context of law enforcement, non-lethal devices are used which include one or more rubber (or wooden) projectiles which are launched by means of a weapon such as a grenade launcher or a rifle. The disadvantage of these devices is that they have a reduced efficiency zone which leads either to use them in large quantities to ensure zone saturation, or to implement them after a target aiming which is difficult to to insure in period of riot. Another drawback of these devices is that they do not make it possible to control the terminal energy that they deliver on a target. Indeed, this energy is essentially made up of the kinetic energy of the

  projectiles. Energy which decreases on trajectory and which can be much too strong at a reduced distance and much too weak at long distance.30 In addition, these devices cannot be used to protect an area against intrusion.

  It is the aim of the invention to propose a defense device with reduced lethality which does not have such drawbacks. Thus the device according to the invention has an increased efficiency zone which in particular makes it possible to ensure with a single device the neutralization of one or more people and without the need to aim precisely. The device according to the invention also makes it possible to control the level of energy applied to a target and this in a way which does not depend on the distance at which the target is located. The device according to the invention can just as easily be adapted for use in law enforcement. In this case it

  will be incorporated into a projectile launched by a weapon system or10 well projected by hand.

  The device according to the invention can also be adapted for use in area or site protection. Its operation can then be entirely automatic or remote-controlled.15 Thus the invention relates to a defense device with reduced lethality characterized in that it comprises at least one

  bag comprising a flexible envelope capable of being inflated by at least one gas or fluid generator in the vicinity of a target so as to exert a shock thereon.

  In a preferred manner, the envelope of the bag may comprise at least one ballast secured to the envelope.

  The mass of the ballast can be uniformly distributed over the envelope.

  According to a first embodiment of the invention, the bag can be secured to a projectile, the bag being inflated on the trajectory of the projectile. The projectile can be fired by a launch system using an ejection means triggered by a

control means.

  According to a second embodiment, the launching system may include at least one base placed on the ground, the

  projectile being ejected in a substantially vertical direction. 35 The projectile may be connected to the base by at least one retaining cable.

  The cable will be able to limit the travel of the projectile.

  The bag may carry at least two weights arranged on the envelope so as to be driven at speeds substantially perpendicular to the speed of the projectile during inflation of the bag.

  The bag can carry several weights regularly distributed over the surface of the envelope.

  According to a third embodiment, the device may comprise at least one bag secured to a fixed platform, and the inflation of which is caused by control means, the bag remaining integral with the platform during inflation. At least one ballast can be arranged at an upper part of the bag so as to be animated with a speed of separation from the platform substantially perpendicular to a mean plane of the platform. According to a fourth embodiment, the bag, once inflated, may have a substantially cylindrical shape, the

  ballast being integral with one end of said cylinder.

  The deflated bag can be folded so as to be wound on itself along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder formed by the inflated bag. In general, the control means may

  be connected to target detection means.

  The control means may be connected to means for receiving remote control orders.

  According to different characteristics: -the ballast (s) may be made of plastic material, loaded or not, -the gas generator may comprise at least one pyrotechnic generator, -the gas generator may comprise at least one cylinder of pressurized gas, -the bag can carry a pressure limiter, such as a calibrated valve,

  -the bag may have a reinforced envelope.

  Other advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of different modes

  of production, description made with reference to the accompanying drawings5 and in which:

  FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a defense device according to the invention, device shown in schematic longitudinal section and before inflation of the envelope, FIG. 10 shows it in a partial embodiment variant. of the gas generator initiation means, FIG. 2 shows this same device after inflation of the envelope, FIG. 3a shows a second embodiment of a defense device according to the invention, device shown in section schematic longitudinal section and before inflation of the envelope, FIG. 3b shows this same embodiment after ejection of the projectile and before inflation of the envelope, FIG. 3c shows this same embodiment after inflation of the envelope, - FIG. 4 shows a third embodiment of a defense device according to the invention, mode shown after inflation of the envelope, FIG. 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention tion before inflation of the envelope, FIG. 6 shows this same embodiment after inflation of the envelope, FIG. 7 is a partial view of a calibrated valve adaptable to the envelope of a bag,

  FIG. 8 is a partial view of an alternative embodiment of a bag envelope.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a defense device with reduced lethality according to a first embodiment of the invention is produced in the form of a projectile 1 intended to be launched in a conventional manner intended for a target ( not shown). This projectile can for example be launched by hand and will then constitute a hand grenade. It will then include a security and arming system (not shown) of the conventional type (extractable pin and spoon releasing a striker). This projectile can also be fired by a launch system (not shown), for example a small arms weapon.

  or medium caliber, a grenade launcher or a recoilless weapon.

  Launching systems are well known to those skilled in the art. They do not constitute the object of the present invention and will therefore not be described in more detail. The projectile 1 comprises a thin ogival case 2, made for example of a plastic material such as a polyamide, and fixed for example by bonding to a base 3 made of light material (for example plastic material). The case 2 may also include primers for longitudinal breaks constituted for example by

  thinning of its thickness along generators.

  The base 3 includes an axial housing 4 delimited by a threaded cylindrical partition 5.

  The threaded partition receives a threaded plug 6, also made of plastic, which has a cylindrical extension 6a on which is fixed a bag 7 comprising a flexible and inflatable envelope 7. The bag 7 is made of a

  material that is both flexible and resistant, for example polyamide or Kevlar or an elastic material such as an elastomer.

  The bag is made integral with the plug 6, for example by a clamp 8.

  The plug 6 has an axial bore 9 which makes it possible to communicate the interior of the bag 7 with at least one

  gas generator 10 disposed in the housing 4.

  The gas generator 10 is a pyrotechnic generator comprising a gas-generating pyrotechnic composition initiated by a delay pyrotechnic composition 11. The technologies relating to gas generators and airbags are well known in the field of automobile safety. We could for example refer to

  Patent EP529371 which describes a material which can be used to make such a bag and to patents US5062367, FR2691706 and EP509655 which describe gas generators which can be used for motor vehicle safety.

  The delay composition 11 will for example be a composition combining Tungsten, Barium Chromate and potassium perchlorate. Patent FR2650586 describes such a type of composition. The delay composition will itself be initiated by an igniter 12 which will be triggered by a system not shown, for example a striker released by a spoon in the case of a grenade-type projectile, or by a propellant charge in the case of a projectile launched by a launching system. The value of the delay will be chosen for example of the order of 1 second (for a projectile launched by hand) in order to ensure deployment of the bag at a distance from the launcher of the order of 20 meters. It will of course be possible (variant of FIG. La) to replace the pyrotechnic delay with a delay

  programmable electronics 13 which will initiate the igniter 12.

  Such a variant will make it possible to vary the value of the delay as a function of the operational conditions (launcher / target distance, launch speed, etc.). In a conventional manner, the programming of the delay may be carried out automatically by the launch system at from shooter / target telemetry information given by a measurement system (not shown). In accordance with the invention, the envelope of the bag 7 comprises

  at least one ballast 14 secured to the envelope.

  Each ballast 14 may for example be constituted by a rubber patch 4 to 5 mm thick. The ballast can also be produced in the form of pellets of a loaded material in order to increase its density, for example a plastic material (such as a polyamide) loaded with metallic powder (iron or aluminum powder). Here the bag carries several regularly distributed pastilles. The ballast pellets are made integral with

  the envelope for example by gluing. They could also be trapped between two walls of the envelope.

  As a variant, it is possible to produce an envelope for which the ballast will be distributed uniformly over substantially the entire external surface of the envelope. In this case, the bag will preferably be made of a material

  elastic such as an elastomer which has been loaded, for example with a metallic powder.

  The operation of the device will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

  The device according to the invention is used to disperse a riot or to neutralize an individual in a non-lethal manner. Prior to the launching of projectile 1, a target telemetry made it possible to determine the value of the delay of

  triggering of the gas generator.

  According to the most rustic embodiment, for example for a hand grenade, the trigger delay is fixed. The projectile is launched by the launch system towards the target. At the end of the delay, therefore in the vicinity of the target, the gas generator is activated. The bag 7 inflates and breaks the case 2. The volume of the inflated bag is 60 to 80 times greater than that of the projectile and the inflation communicates to the weights 14 a kinetic energy according to

  directions Z substantially radial to the bag 7.

  By way of example, this kinetic energy is of the order of 15 Joules for a system deployed in about 20 milliseconds and using 2 weights arranged in a symmetrical manner and having a mass of the order of 3005 grams each. With an appropriate distribution of the weights or else of the total mass of the ballast on the envelope, this energy will be exerted in substantially all the directions of the space around the point where the projectile 1 is located at the time of inflation. results a shock which will be exerted on the target or targets located around the trigger point and this even with an imprecision in the aiming and in the absence of any impact of the projectile on the target. In addition, the shock received by the target then depends only on the energy communicated by the inflation of the bag. This

  energy is easily controlled during the design of the projectile and it does not vary on trajectory.

  The effect on the target will also be the same for a bag on the envelope of which the ballast will be evenly distributed.

  The shock is enough to neutralize an individual at least temporarily. It also has a deterrent effect due to the brutality of the inflation of the bag. The case 2 of the projectile is chosen with a sufficiently reduced thickness and it is made of a material

  light enough so that no injury can be caused by the bag breaking.

  In order to avoid rupture of the envelope due to an overpressure, a calibrated valve may be provided on the envelope, a valve which will rupture at a given pressure. FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of such a valve 30 which includes a ring 28 for example in

  rubber and secured to the casing 7 at a hole thereof. The ring receives a partition 29 which closes its axial opening. The partition is made of plastic and has a thickness calibrated so as to rupture at a given pressure.

  One can also provide an envelope reinforced for example by seams or rubber bands 31

  glued to the envelope and arranged in a network (Figure 8). Such an arrangement will both make the envelope 5 more resistant to pressure and increase the inertia of the envelope and therefore the effect on the target.

  Figures 3a, 3b and 3c show a device according to a second embodiment of the invention.

  This mode is more particularly intended for protection

of an area of land.

  It again comprises a projectile 1 of the type described above but placed in a launch system which comprises at least one base 15 placed on the ground or slightly buried and carrying a launch tube 16.15 The projectile is placed in a launch tube 16 secured to base 15 and will therefore be ejected according to a

  substantially vertical direction X. The launching tube is closed off by a thin plastic partition 27 which will be broken by the projectile 1.

  The tube contains an ejection means constituted by a pyrotechnic ejection composition 17, for example a propellant powder, which is initiated by an igniter 18. The igniter is triggered by a control means

electronics 19.

  The control means is connected to target detection means 20 (here microphones), and it incorporates a unit

  signal processing 21 making it possible to determine the nature of the latter, to compare them to signals contained in memories to determine the nature of the target detected and to calculate the distance at which the target is from base 15.

  The means 19 therefore make it possible to cause the projectile to fire at an optimal time relative to the proximity of

target.

  The control means may advantageously be connected to a means 22 for receiving remote control orders, means connected to an antenna 23 (here a loop surrounding the base 15). According to a first alternative embodiment of this device, the propellant charge 17 will also ensure the initiation of the igniter 12 carried by the projectile 1. A fixed pyrotechnic delay 11 is then placed in the projectile. This results in an inflation start at a substantially constant height. The device will be dimensioned so that this triggering occurs at a height of the order of 1.7 m, which will ensure inflation.

  in the vicinity of the head of a detected intruder. According to a second alternative embodiment of this device, a cable 24 connects the projectile 1 to the base 15.

  This cable contains at least two conductors. On the one hand, it limits the vertical trajectory of the projectile

  and on the other hand it transmits an initiation order of the gas generator (s) which will be issued by the control means 19 at the end of a predetermined or programmable delay.

  Figures 3b and 3c show two successive steps in the operation of a device according to this embodiment. When a determined target is detected by the control means 19, or when a trigger order has been received by the latter via the remote control order reception means 22, the projectile 1 is fired (Figure 3b). The inflation of the bag 7 is then caused at the end of a predetermined delay by the control module 19 (or else of a fixed delay embarked by the projectile) As in the previous embodiment, the rapid and brutal inflation of the bag causes (due to its inertia

  created by the ballast) of shocks on individuals or targets placed in the vicinity of the inflation point.35 Here again we can adopt a bag with a ballast evenly distributed or in the form of pellets 14.

  Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention which differs from the previous one in that the airbag 7 remains attached to the base 15. There is therefore no projectile here. The control means 19 directly triggers the igniter 12 which initiates the gas generator. The volume of the base 15 makes it possible to produce a large bag (of the order of 120 to 500 liters). As a variant, it is possible to replace in this embodiment the pyrotechnic gas generator with a bottle containing a large volume of compressed gas,

  bottle connected to the bag via a valve, the opening of which will be controlled by the control module. The volume available in the base 15 (which is greater than that of the projectile of the previous embodiment) allows the installation of such a compressed gas bottle.

  This embodiment can be used on the ground, but it is more particularly suitable for protecting the walls of

  buildings or vehicles, for example lightly armored vehicles20 used by law enforcement.

  Figures 5 and 6 show a fourth embodiment of the invention also more particularly

  intended for the protection of walls, for example in the field of protection against intrusion of buildings.

  This mode differs from the previous one by the particular shape of its airbag 7.

  The bag 7 once inflated has a substantially cylindrical shape with an axis 25 (see FIG. 6). He wears a ballast 14 which

  is secured to one end of the cylinder.

  The deflated bag 7 is folded so as to be wound on itself along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis 25 of the cylinder formed by the inflated bag. 35 The inflation of this bag has the effect of unfolding it to give it the shape cylindrical shown in Figure 6. The ballast is then animated by a speed away from the base 15 which is substantially perpendicular to a mean plane thereof, and more particularly to the plane of the wall 26 on which is fixed the base.5 The ballast 14 is therefore animated by a significant kinetic energy in the direction of the axis 25. It is thus

  possible to exert a shock on a target located at a distance D from the platform which is a function of the length of the bag 7. It is possible to define for example a device ensuring a distance D of the order of 0.5 m.

  The ballast material will, for example, consist of rubber, loaded or not. The shape of the ballast 14 will advantageously be rounded and its diameter will be of the order of 150 mm (mass of 0.3 kg) in order to avoid any injury but only to ensure a shock on an intruder which is sufficient to neutralize it at less temporarily. Ballast can

  also consist of a hollow rubber sphere.

  As a variant and in all the embodiments described above, the gas generator may be replaced by a generator of polymerizable foam, for example polyurethane foam. This foam will solidify in

  the envelope of the bag and give it a rigidity increasing the shock effect. Patent WO8800882 describes such a foam in the application to the rapid production of 25 floats.

Claims (12)

  1-Defense device with reduced lethality characterized in that it comprises at least one bag (7) comprising a   flexible envelope capable of being inflated by at least one generator (10) of gas or fluid in the vicinity of a target so as to exert a shock thereon.   2-defense device according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelope of the bag (7) comprises at least one ballast (14) integral with the envelope. 10 3-defense device according to claim 2, characterized in that that the mass of the ballast is uniformly   distributed over the envelope. 4-Defense device according to one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that the bag (7) is integral with a   projectile (1), the bag being inflated on the trajectory of the projectile.   -Defence device according to claim 4, characterized in that the projectile is fired by a system   launch (15,16) using an ejection means (17) 20 triggered by a control means (19).   6-Defense device according to claim 5, characterized in that the launch system comprises at   at least one base (15) placed on the ground, the projectile (1) being ejected in a substantially vertical direction.   7-Defense device according to claim 6, characterized in that the projectile (1) is connected to the base   (15) by at least one retaining cable (24).   8-Defense device according to claim 7, characterized in that the cable (24) provides a limitation of the stroke of the projectile (1).   9-Defense device according to one of claims 4 to   8, characterized in that the bag (7) carries at least two weights (14) arranged on the envelope so as to be driven by speeds substantially perpendicular to the speed of the   projectile during inflation of the bag (7).   -Defence device according to claim 9, characterized in that the bag (7) carries several weights   evenly distributed over the surface of the envelope. 11- Defense device according to one of claims 1 to   3, characterized in that it comprises at least one bag (7) secured to a fixed platform (15), and the inflation of which is caused by control means (19), the bag (7) remaining secured of the platform (15) during inflation. 12-Defense device according to claim 11, characterized in that at least one ballast (14) is disposed at an upper part of the bag (7) so as to be   find animated with a speed away from the platform (15) substantially perpendicular to a mean plane of the platform.   13-Defense device according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the bag (7), once inflated, has   a substantially cylindrical shape, the ballast (14) being integral with one end of said cylinder. 14-Defense device according to claim 13, characterized in that the deflated bag (7) is folded so as to be wound on itself along an axis substantially perpendicular to the axis (25) of the cylinder formed by the bag   inflated. 15-Defense device according to one of claims 5   or 11, characterized in that the control means (19) are connected to target detection means (20).   16-Defense device according to one of claims 5,   11 or 15, characterized in that the control means (19) are connected to means (22) for receiving orders from remote control.   17-Defense device according to one of claims 2 to   16, characterized in that the ballast (s) (14) are made of plastic material, loaded or not.   18-Defense device according to one of claims 1 to   17, characterized in that the gas generator (10) comprises at least one pyrotechnic generator.   19-Defense device according to one of claims 1 to   18, characterized in that the gas generator comprises at least   minus a cylinder of pressurized gas.   - Defense device according to one of claims 1 to   19, characterized in that the bag (7) carries a limiter   pressure, such as a calibrated valve (30).   21-Defense device according to one of claims 1 to   , characterized in that the bag (7) has a reinforced envelope.