FR2847280A1 - Police force vehicle stop mechanism having pointed section with profiled removable end penetrating type and explosive charge/initiation mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

The vehicle stopping mechanism has a pointed section (4) with a removable end (9) which penetrates the vehicle tyre. The point profile (9b) assures the point being held in the tyre. The removable end has an explosive charge (11) and initiation mechanism (12).

Description

The technical field of the invention is that of

  devices for stopping a vehicle.

  Such devices are used by the police to block a traffic lane and stop any vehicle seeking to break through such a barrier. One of the most used devices consists of a deployable harrow carrying points intended to perforate the

vehicle tires.

  However today vehicles are often fitted with tires incorporating a rigid internal tread which ensures stable driving in the event of a puncture. A vehicle so equipped can therefore force a harrow without

  its ability to roll is impaired.

  It is the object of the invention to propose a device

  allowing to overcome such drawbacks.

  Thus the device according to the invention is simple to implement similar to that of known harrows but it has improved efficiency and can stop a vehicle equipped

  wheels with rigid internal tread.

  Thus, the subject of the invention is a stop device for a vehicle comprising at least one wheel fitted with a tire, device comprising at least one point intended to sink into the tire of the vehicle, device characterized in that the point carries a removable end intended to penetrate into the tire and having a profile ensuring its maintenance inside the tire, removable end incorporating at least one explosive charge as well as a device for initiating this

charge.

  According to a particular embodiment, the charge

  explosive could be a charge formed.

  The charge initiation device may include an energy reserve in the form of a capacitor which can be charged from an external energy source which can be connected to the removable end by an electrical connection. The charge initiation device will advantageously include a first electrical switch ensuring the ignition of the charge, the first switch which will be open when the removable end is placed on the tip and which will be closed when the removable end is

  extracted and / or distant from the tip.

  According to an alternative embodiment, the first electrical switch can be actuated by a sliding rod pushed radially by a spring, rod which will be held by a wall of the tip, when the removable end is fixed to it, and which, pushed by the spring, will move when the removable end is extracted from the tip, thus establishing electrical contact. The vehicle stop device may include a lock ensuring the immobilization of the rod when the latter is in its position establishing electrical contact. The first electrical switch may be a static electronic switch controlled by a circuit internal to the initiation device, a circuit ensuring the detection of the break in electric wires which ensure the connection of the device and controlling the closing of

  the switch as a result of the detection of this break.

  The stop device will include a control box incorporating the external energy source, a box which will be connected to the initiation device of the removable end and which will include means making it possible to supply and discharge the capacitor incorporated in the device. initiation. According to another characteristic of the invention, the electrical connection may incorporate a discharge resistance ensuring the discharge of the capacitor during the

  disconnection of the external power source.

  According to another alternative embodiment, the stop device may include a second electrical validation contact arranged in series with the first ignition contact, contact made in the form of a static switch whose open or closed position cannot to be ordered

only through the control box.

  The stop device according to the invention may include a network of tips each equipped with a removable end, all the initiation devices incorporated in these ends being connected to the control unit by a BUS.

Wired.

  The initiation devices may incorporate control electronics which will include an input / output interface intended to exchange signals with the control unit through the BUS, and which will also include at least one memory or register intended to receive a code. identification allowing its recognition by the box

control.

  The control electronics can ensure the test of at least one initiator ensuring the triggering of the load

explosive.

  The invention will be better understood on reading the

  description of a particular embodiment, description

  made with reference to the accompanying drawings and in which: - Figure 1 is a diagram showing the implementation of a vehicle stop device according to the invention, - Figure 2 is a detail view in partial section showing the structure of a tip of the device according to the invention as well as of its removable end, - Figure 3 is a detail view showing the first electrical contact of the removable end, - Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment of a removable end, - Figure 5 schematically shows an embodiment of a connector for connecting the removable end to a control unit, - Figure 6 is an electrical diagram showing the connection of different initiation devices to the

control box.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a device 1 according to the invention comprises a support 2 arranged on the ground so as to block a route 3. The support 2 carries several rows of points 4 and it is connected by a wire 6 to a housing

remote control 5.

  The support 2 is here represented schematically in the form of a plate. To facilitate storage and operational implementation, it will be advantageous to produce the support in the form of a foldable structure, for example formed from bars hinged together. The points can then be placed at the intersection of the various bars or else on the bars. Such a foldable harrow structure is already known (in particular by patents W00135045 and GB2300660). It is not the subject of the present invention

  and will therefore not be described in more detail.

  Figure 2 shows in more detail the structure of a tip 4. This tip is disposed in a bore 8 of the support 2. It is fixed for example by a system of

link to baőnnette 7.

  According to the invention the tip 4 comprises a removable end 9 which is integral with a tip holder 10 linked to the support 2. The removable end is made integral with the tip holder 10 by means of a ring 29 of plastic material . The ring 29 has a chamfer allowing the introduction of the end 9 into the tip holder 10. It is split to give it a certain elasticity and it is housed in an annular groove provided

on the wall of the tip holder 10.

  The end 9 of the tip is intended to puncture a vehicle tire (not shown). It therefore has a pointed end 9a and has a profile 9b ensuring its retention inside the tire, for example at least one sharp edge 9b preventing the withdrawal of the end.

9 out of the tire.

  According to an essential characteristic of the invention the removable end 9 contains at least one explosive charge

  l and a device 12 for initiating this charge.

  Load 11 and initiation device 12 are arranged in a cylindrical housing 13 arranged inside of

the removable end 9.

  The initiation device 12 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2. It includes a reserve of energy in the form of a capacitor 14, an armature of which is connected to a detonator 15 via

  a first electrical switch 16.

  The other armature of the capacitor 14 is connected to the detonator via the conductive mass of

the end 9 of the point.

  The first electrical switch 16 is actuated by a sliding rod 17 which is radially movable in a

  hole in the wall of the removable end 9.

  This switch will be described in more detail later. The capacitor 14 is connected by wires 45 to a plug 19a which is intended to be connected to a complementary plug 19b so as to form a connector 19. The plugs 19a and 19b are shown here separated for the clarity of FIG. 2. These plugs are naturally connected to each other when the device is operational. The plug 19b is secured to the support 2 and is connected by wires 6 to the control unit 5 which includes an energy source 20 making it possible to charge the capacitor 14. FIG. 3 shows in more detail an embodiment of the first switch electric 16. This comprises two flexible conductive strips 21a and 21b, the first strip 21a is connected to a frame of the capacitor 14, the second strip 21b is connected to a

detonator pin 15.

  The rod 17 is made of an insulating material, for example plastic, and it is interposed between the

two strips 21a and 21b.

  The rod 17 is pushed radially by a spring 22 which bears, on one side on a partition 24 internal to the device, and on the other on a flange 25 secured to the rod 17. This rod is engaged in a hole 23 made in a wall of the removable end 9. It is immobilized by a wall of the tip holder 10 in the position shown here where the electrical contact is not established

between the slats.

  The flange 25 is made of a conductive material, for example metal. When the removable end 9 is extracted from the tip holder 10 the rod 17 can move pushed by its spring 22. The collar 25 has a conical shape which makes it possible to separate the strips 21a and 21b. These apply elastically against the flange 25

  thus establishing electrical contact.

  A second rod 26 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the first rod 17 and it slides in a hole 27 made in the partition 24. It is pushed by a spring 28 which bears, on one side on the partition 24, and the other on a shoulder 26a of the rod 26. This

  second rod bears against the first rod 17.

  It constitutes a lock which makes it possible to immobilize the contact rod 17 when the latter is in its position establishing the electrical contact.

  The operation of the device is as follows.

  When the removable end is fixed on its tip holder 10, it is possible to charge the capacitor 14 from the power source 20 disposed in the housing.

command 5.

  No initiation of the explosive charge is possible

  due to the presence of the first switch 16.

  When a tire crushes the end 9 of the tip, the latter enters the tire and it is trapped therein due to its rim 9b. It is then extracted by the tire from the tip holder 10. The ring 29 is chosen with a mechanical strength low enough to be able to be sheared during the

tire passage.

  The extraction of the removable end 9 actuates the switch 13 which connects the capacitor 14 to the detonator 15. The latter then initiates the explosive charge II inside the tire which is broken up by

the energy of the explosion.

  2 g of an explosive is enough to cause the destruction of the tire casing as well as the rupture of a rigid tread disposed inside the latter. The rolling capacity of the vehicle is therefore greatly reduced. The extraction of the removable end 9 breaks the wires ensuring the electrical connection between the control unit and the initiation device. This break is not important, the capacity 14 which was charged during the arming of the device is sufficient to ensure

  the power supply to the detonator.

  As a variant, it is possible to replace the electric switch 16 with mechanical control by a static electronic switch which will be incorporated into the initiation device. It will thus be possible to provide a circuit ensuring the detection of the breakage of the wires 45 ensuring the electrical connection between the control unit and the initiation device. Such switches and their control circuit are well known to those skilled in the art, it suffices to detect the modification of an electrical resistance or the disappearance of a control voltage, events which do not

  may appear only after the wire breaks.

  The advantage of such a variant is that it delays the moment of initiation of the explosive charge. Indeed this one does not intervene any more as of the extraction of the end 9 out of its support but later after the rupture of the wires 45. Furthermore it is then possible to accidentally extract a tip end out of its support without causing detonation of the charge if the wires are not

  not broken. The security of disassembly is therefore increased.

  In order to further increase the efficiency of the device according to the invention, it is possible to replace the explosive charge 1i

by a formed charge.

  Figure 4 thus shows a removable end 9 according to this alternative embodiment. The explosive charge 11 comprises a conical cavity to which a coating 30, for example of copper, is applied. The initiation of the explosive charge 11 by the detonator 15 causes, in a well known manner, the formation of a jet of the coating material 30. This jet is driven at a high speed (of the order of 5000 m / s ) and it has sufficient perforation capacities (of the order of 100 mm in the rubber) to destroy not only the internal tread of the tire but

also the rim of the wheel.

  The destruction of the rims causes the vehicle to stop immediately. In order to perfect the safety of the device according to the invention, means may be provided ensuring a discharge of the ignition capacitor when the device

  is no longer used and must be returned to the storage area.

  The capacitors 14 can easily be discharged at

from the control unit 5.

  FIG. 6 thus shows a control unit 5 incorporating a discharge switch 31 making it possible to connect the two wires 6a and 6b supplying the capacitors 14 of the different ends to a discharge resistance 32

removable 9 of the device.

  This switch is operated manually by

  the operator to put the device out of service.

  Means can also be provided to discharge the ignition capacitor 14 when the tip holders 10 are dismantled. FIG. 5 thus shows a connector 19 in which the female plug 19a secured to the removable tip 9 comprises a discharge resistance 33 which is connected by flexible conductive strips 34a, 34b

  to connection sockets 35a and 35b.

  By thus connecting the sockets 35a and 35b, this resistor 33 automatically discharges the capacitor 14 during

  disconnection from the external power source.

  The male plug 19b, which is integral with the support 2, carries two electrodes 36a and 36b intended to engage in the

  sockets 35a and 35b for electrical connection.

  This sheet 19b also includes an insulating annular lip 37. When the plugs 19a and 19b are connected, the lip 37 engages in a groove 38 of the female plug and it spreads the strips 34a and 34b, thus eliminating the discharge shunt. The operation of the device according to the invention has been described above by considering a single point 4 provided with a removable end 9. It is understood that the device according to the invention implements a network of points 4 which are all equipped

  of a removable end 9. Figure 1 shows such a network.

  In order to simplify the connection and control of the tips, all the initiation devices for the different tips are connected to the control box 5 by a BUS

  data transmission 39 (see Figure 6).

  BUS technology is well known and is

  particularly implemented in the automotive field.

  BUS systems simplify wiring and allow for the subsequent introduction of new components without the need to redefine wiring. As is more particularly visible in FIG. 6, all the initiation devices 12a, 12b ... are

  mounted in parallel on the pair of wires 6a, 6b of the BUS 39.

  The control unit 5 includes management electronics 40 which controls the device. This electronics manages

  addressing the various initiation devices 12.

  Each initiation device 12 incorporates an electronic control circuit 41 which includes an input / output interface 42 intended for exchanging signals with the management electronics 40 of the control unit 5 at

across BUS 39.

  Each control circuit 41 also includes at least one memory or register 43 which is intended to receive an identification code transmitted by the management electronics 40 and which allows the latter to recognize and distinguish

each initiation device 12.

  it Such an arrangement makes it possible to ensure control by the management electronics 40 of the proper functioning of each initiation device 12. To this end the electronic control circuit 41 of each initiation device 12 will be defined so as to be able to ensure at least one test of the detonator 15 ensuring the triggering of the explosive charge. For example a continuity or electrical resistance test. Thus when the device is powered up, the energy source 20 will charge the capacitors 14 of the different tips as well as the electrical supply of the electronic circuits 41 of each initiation device. The management electronics 40 will then assign to each tip 9 of the device an address which will be stored in each device 12. This address will be used for the exchange of data between the management electronics and

  the different initiation devices.

  Periodically the management electronics 40 will interrogate each initiation device 12 on its state (charge of the capacity, state of the detonator). Each control circuit 41 will then respond to the management electronics 40. The latter will then be able to give the user a visualization of the state of the device and will make it possible to identify the tips 4

  failing to replace them.

  This management, addressing and control protocol for electropyrotechnic components is well known to those skilled in the art. We can for example consider the patents FR2801698, FR2799425, US6422596 and EP507581, which describe BUS devices implemented in security

automobiles.

  Advantageously, the safety of the device can be reinforced by providing a second electrical validation contact 44 in the initiation device 12 of each tip, arranged for example in the electronic control circuit 41. This second contact 44 will be mounted in series with the

first ignition contact 16.

  It will be produced in the form of a bistable static switch whose open or closed position cannot be

  controlled only by the control unit 40.

  Thus, the explosive charges can only be activated when they have previously been connected to the control unit 5. The latter will simultaneously control the closing of all or part of the second contacts by

  response to an order given manually by the user.

  This order will thus correspond to an arming of the explosive points. We can arm all the explosive points of a barrier or only certain areas

of the barrier.

  The initiation can however only take place in the event of extraction of a tip end 9 from its support 10. When the arming of the device is no longer desired, the user will open the second contacts 44 thus ensuring the neutralization of the different points which even extracted can no longer explode. The discharge of the capacitors 14 can then be controlled from the control unit

  40 prior to the withdrawal of the device.

  The security of the device is therefore optimal. In fact, the detonators 15 are only capable of being triggered after closing of two contacts, such closing can only occur following two events of distinct origins and occurring in a well-defined order: validation of the armed state by an operator followed

  mechanical extraction of a tip 4.

  If a tip is extracted from a device when the second switch has not been actuated, it cannot explode. Furthermore, security is reinforced by the presence of discharge resistors 33, 32 at each connector 19 as well as at the level of the housing.

command 5.

Claims (13)

  1- Stop device (1) for a vehicle comprising at least one wheel fitted with a tire, device comprising at least one point (4) intended to sink into the vehicle tire, device characterized in that the point (4) carries a removable end (9) intended to penetrate into the tire and having a profile (9b) ensuring its retention inside the tire, removable end incorporating at least one explosive charge (11) as well as a   initiation device (12) for this charge.   2- Stop device for vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the explosive charge (11) is a formed charge.   3- Vehicle stop device according to one of the   claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the device   charge initiation (12) includes an energy reserve in the form of a capacitor (14) which can be charged from an external energy source (20) which can be connected to the removable end (9) by connection electric (19).   4- Vehicle stop device according to one of the   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device   initiation (12) of the load (11) comprises a first electrical switch (16) ensuring the ignition of the load (11), first switch which is open when the removable end (9) is disposed on the tip (4) and which is closed when the removable end (9) is extracted and / or distant from the tip (4).   5- Stop device for vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the first electrical switch (16) is actuated by a sliding rod (17) pushed radially by a spring (22), rod which is held by a wall (10) of the tip when the removable end (9) is fixed thereto, and which, pushed by the spring, moves when the removable end is extracted from the tip, thus establishing the electric contact.   6- Stop device for vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a lock (26) ensuring the immobilization of the rod (17) when the latter is in its position establishing electrical contact. 7- Stop device for vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that the first electrical switch (16) is a static electronic switch controlled by a circuit internal to the initiation device (12), circuit ensuring the detection of rupture electric wires (45) ensuring the connection of the device and controlling the closing of the switch (16)   as a result of the detection of this break.   8- Stop device for vehicle according to one of   Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a   control box (5) incorporating the external energy source (20), box which is connected to the initiation device (12) of the removable end (9) and which comprises means (31,32) making it possible to feed and discharge the   capacitor incorporated in the initiation device.   9- Stop device for vehicle according to one of   claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the connection   electric (19) incorporates a discharge resistance (33) ensuring the discharge of the capacitor (14) during the   disconnection of the external power source (20).   10- Stop device for vehicle according to one of the   Claims 8 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a   second electrical validation contact (44) arranged in series with the first ignition contact (16), contact made in the form of a static switch whose open or closed position can only be controlled by the control box (5).   11- Stop device for vehicle according to one of   Claims 7 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a   spike network (4) each equipped with a removable end (9), all the initiation devices incorporated in these ends being connected to the control unit (5) by a wired BUS (39).   12- Vehicle stop device according to claim 11, characterized in that the initiation devices (12) incorporate a control electronics (41) which has an input / output interface (42) intended to exchange signals with the control unit (5) through the BUS, and which also comprises at least one memory or register (43) intended to receive an identification code   allowing its recognition by the control unit (5).   13- Stop device for vehicle according to claim 12, characterized in that the control electronics (41) ensures the test of at least one initiator (15)   ensuring the triggering of the explosive charge (11).