GB2188129A - Ammunition comprising a lachrymator - Google Patents

Abstract

Binary ammunition having an aerodynamic form e.g. being a grenade, a projectile or the like. Said ammunition comprises in succession hollow chamber A made of a suitable light weight material e.g. a rigid plastic or a non-ferrous light metal and containing a smoke creating pyrotechnical composition e.g. a high rate oxidizable and smoke emitting compound being bond by PVC, which composition is substantially in a solid form at room temperature and creates the smoke when being ignited, chamber A being provided with readily openable holes a which are suitably covered by an adhesive foil from which holes the smoke can exit and a part of the top thereof being made of a well-heat conducting material; and hollow chamber B being also made of suitable lightweight material, Chamber B contains a lacrymator, e.g. CN or CS solution. The solvent is preferably a low boiling solvent, e.g. acetone, methylene chloride and kerosene. The solution may comprise also a marking compound, e.g. a fluorescent material. Sometimes chamber A may also comprise a lacrymator. Chamber A and B are connected to each other in a tight sealing manner and the ratio A:B is preferably about 3:1. The tip shield of chamber B is easily breakable. The ammunitions may be provided with a delay unit comprising ignition means. The ammunitions may be shot from a launcher, or directly from a barrel or from a breech of a rifle, a sub-machine gun, or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ammunition comprising a lacrymator The present invention relates to binary ammunition containing a lacrymator.

The useoflacrymators has become widespread during the lastfew years particularly to disperse de- monstrations, riots, etc. and to act against terror ac- tivities and the like. The reason for their use being so common is that a non-lethal effect is quickly obtained and a short time neutralisation ofanyaggre- ssor is achieved. Effective lacrymator compositions are known, for example, from Israel Patent Specification No.39273.

There are known devices which use lacrymators.

Many of said devices, for example, hand-throwngrenades orthe like can be used only in a range of about 30 m. This means thatthey can be dangerous forthe operator himself as in this rangethey may cause harm also to him. Moreover, in this rangethe person throwing the hand-grenade is exposed to the activities of aggressors who throw stones, attack with knives, etc. These hand-thrown-grenades are also not effective enough because they generate and emit smoke only or liquid only or powder only. No such grenade exists that combines at least two of said emitted forms.

From U.S. Patent Specifications Nos. 3.776.137, 3.894.492 and 3.911 .824 there are known devices which contain lacrymators. Said devices overcome some of the above drawbacks in that they are shot from a rifle, etc. and therefore their effective range from the operator is enlarged. However, these devices are not effective enough as they contain a liquid solution only. Moreover, no smoke is created which in many instances is desirable.

Other known devices which are shot from a rifle are also not effective enough, because they contain a solid mixture, which upon ignition burns and creates smoke only.

From the yearbook Janes 1983-84 (Editor l.V.

Hogg. published byJanes Publishing Co. Ltd/, London), page 484 a chemical irritant grenade is known which is shot, for example, from a barrel of a sub-machinegun and contains a liquified chemical irritant agent which is under pressure from a Freon ("RTM") charge. Said chemical compound is released by breaking a glass tip on the grenade whereupon a powerful aerosol blast is generated. In said grenade it is essential thatthe compound is under pressure and that the tip is made of glass and these requirements constitute a certain obvious drawback handling. Moreover, also in this device no smoke is created.

It has therefore been desirable to develop binary ammunition containing a liquid solution as well as a solid mixture which ammunition should overcome the above drawbacks to a large extent and atthe same time be easy to manufacture and use.

The present invention thus consists in binary ammunition having an aerodynamic form comprising in succession hollow chamberA made of asuit- able lightweight material and containing a smoke creating protechnical composition, which composition is substantially in a solid form at room temperature and creates the smoke when being ignited, chamber A being provided with readily openable holes from which the smoke can exit and a part of the top thereof being made of a well-heat-conducting material; and hollow chamber B being also made of a suitable lightweight material, chamber B containing a lacrymator solution; chambers A and B being connected to each other in a tight sealing manner; the tip shield of chamber B being easily breakable.

The ammunition according to the present invention may have any suitable aerodynamic form, for example, be a grenade, projectile or the like. It may be actuated, for example, by a blank cartridge, a pro pellantchargeorthelikefroma launcher, directly from the barrel or from the breech of a rifle, a submachine gun orthe like; and from suitable other means.

In a preferred embodiment the ammunition according to the present invention is provided with a delay unit which comprises ignition means. This has the advantage that the ignition of the smoke-creating pyrotechnical composition does not occur immediately but only after a short interval which is often desirable. As such delay there may be used any suitable conventional unit.

As suitable materials for the manufacture of chambers Aand There may bementioned, e.g. rigid plasticmaterialssuchasTeflon("RTM")Ocolon, polyethylene, polypropylene; certain non-ferrous materials, such as aluminium; etc. In some instances chambers Aand B are made from different materials.

Chamber B has to be made from such a material that the tip shield is easily broken. The tip shield will be generally broken bythe impact of a hard object, e.g.

the earth. However, sometimes the tip shield will be broken by means regulated by a delay unit.

The most common lacrymators utilised are o- chloro-benzal-malononitrile (also called ("CS") and phenylacylchloride (also called ("CN"). However, other suitable lacrymators, e.g. allyl isothiocyanate, ethyl bromoacetate, etc., may also be considered.

As solvents may be mentioned for example, low boiling point solvents, e.g. acetone, methylene chloride, kerosene, etc.

As suitable smoke creating pyrotechnical composition may be mentioned, for example, a mixture comprising a high rate oxidizable and smoke emitting compound such as ammonium perchlorate and zinc oxide, said composition being bound by P.V.C.

However, it has to be stressed that the present invention is not restricted to the use of the above materials, lacrymators, solvents and smoke creating pyrotechnical composition.

It is sometimes advantageous that chamberA should also contain a lacrymator so that the smoke created should have a lacrymator effect. Thus, one may add to chamberA, for example, a composition comprising CS or CN admixed with a mineral such as clay and gum arabicum or any other suitable composition.

Moreover, sometimes it is also advantageousto add to the lacrymator solution in chamber B some suitable marking compound, e.g. a suitablefluorescent material. Thus, the people being hit by said mat erial will be marked and can be easily identified.

The size ofthe ammunition according to the present invention is not a criticai feature and may be adapted to the requirements ofthe user and to the weapon from which it is shot. However, it may be stated that the size of chamber A is preferably about 45-55 cc and that of chamber B about 12.5-17.5 cc.

The numberofholes in chambers also nota critical featureofthe present invention. Said holes must be covered by a material which is nottorn in the course of the transport of the ammunition and when it is shot, but is torn by the pressure created when the pyrotechnical composition in chamber A is ignited.

Such material may for example an adhesivealumi- niumfoil.

The connection between chambers A and B is performed, for example, by screwing means being mechanically strong and having a large area, i.e. having many teeth; by welding said chambers together; orthe like.

The well-heat-conducting means at the top of chamberAmaybe,forexample,athin aluminium disc.

The effective range of the weapon according to the present invention is about 150-450 m depending on the kind of launching means.

The ammunition according to the present invention may,forexample,operateasfollows: The blank cartridge, propellant charge or the like is shotfrom a rifle, launcher, etc. and causes the ammunition, activated by the pressure created inside the barrel, to fly towards the target. Simu ltaneously the delay unit is activated by a mechanical pin pushed by the pressure, or if no such unit is present, the smoke creating pyrotechnical composition is ignited by the hot gases emitted from the propellant. (when a delay unit is present the smokecreating pyrotechnical composition will be ignited after a predetermined delay period, e.g. 3 seconds.).

The ignition ofthe smoke-creating pyrotechnical composition givesthefollowing results: a. Said composition is converted into smoke; b. the pressure of the created smoke causes the holes to be opened and thus enables the smoke to be emitted; and c.the well-heat conducting means causesthe lacrymator solution within chamber B to be converted into a gaseous and/or aerosol form, i.e. it receives a very effective form.

The momentthe shield ofthe ammunition impacts a hard object,e.g.the earth,the shield is broken and the lacrymatorsolution inside chamber B is instantaneously dispersed.

The main advantage of the ammunition according to the present invention resides in the combination of chambersA and B. ChamberA creates smoke which is often desirable and the heat generated being transferred by of the well-heat-conducting means enables to generate in chamber B a composition having substantial colloidal aerosol properties.

It has to be stated thatthe lacrymator solution of chamber B is effective even for some reason the smoke-creating pyrotechnical composition is erronously not ignited or delayed beyond impact. Upon impact with a hard object the shield will break and the lacrymator solution will thus in any case be dispersed. On the contrary if, however, the shield impacts on a soft target and will not break, the pyrotechnical composition will nevertheless be ignited. It is thus quite improbable that both chambers will not be activated.

The present invention will now be illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings without being limited by them: In said drawings: Figure 1 shows a side-view, partially in section, of a grenade capable of being shot from a launcher; and Figure2 shows a side-view of a projectile capable of being shot directly from a barrel of a rifle orthe like.

The grenade illustrated in Figure 1 consists of chambers A and B being connected to each other by screwing means 1. ChamberA is provided with readily openable holes 2 covered by an adhesive aluminium foil and at its top it is provided with wellheat-conducting disc3. Chamber A contains a smoke-creating pyrotechnical composition and, if desired, also a lacrymatorcomposition.

Chamber B contains the lacrymator solution. Tip shield 4 constitutes the breakable tip.

Housing 5 comprising an ignition and delay unit (not shown) is connected in atightsealing mannerto the end of chamber A. At the center ofthe back of said housing 5 is provided hole 6, covered by an adhesive aluminium foil, through which the hot gases of the blank cartridge (not shown) cause the ignition of the delay unit. The ignition means in said delay unit ignite in due course the smoke-creating pyrotechnical composition.

The projectile illustrated in Figure 2 consists of chambers A and B being connected to each other by screwing means 10. At the top of chamber A is provided well-heat conducting disc 11. Tip 12 of chamber B is easily breakable. ChamberAcontainsthe smoke-creating pyrotechnical composition and, if desired, a lacrymator. Chamber B contains the lacrymatorsolution. Chamber A is also provided with covered holes 13 through which the smoke can be emitted.

Housing 14 comprising an ignition and delay unit (not shown) is connected in a tight sealed mannerto chamberA and its end is provided with at least one, covered hole 15. Tail 16 being provided with wings 17 is connected to housing 14.

Claims (18)

1. Binaryammunition having an aerodynamic form comprising in succession hollowchamberA made of a suitable lightweight material and containing a smoke creating pyrotechnical composition, which composition is substantially in a solid form at room temperau re a nd creates the smoke when being ignited, chamber A being provided with readily openable holes from which the smoke can exit and a part of the top thereof being made of a well-heat conducting material; and hollow chamber B being also made of a suitable lightweight material, chamber B containing a lacrymatorsolution; chambersAand B being connected to each other in a tight sealing manner; the tip shield of chamber B being easily breakable.

2. Binary ammunition according to Claim 1, being a grenade.

3. Binary ammunition according to Claim 1, being a projectile.

4. Binaryammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 3 being shot from a launcher.

5. Binaryammunition according to anyofClaims 1 to 3 being shot directly from a barrel of a rifle, submachine gun orthe like.

6. Binaryammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 3 being shot from the breech of a rifle, submachine gun orthe like.

7. Binary ammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 6, being provided with delay until comprising ignition means.

8. Binaryammunition accordingto anyof Claims 1 to 6 being made from rigid plastic materials such as Teflon, Ocolon, polyethylene, polypropylene; cer- tain non-ferrous light metals such as aluminium, etc.

9. Binary ammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 8wherein the lacrymator is CS or CN.

10. Binary ammunition according to anyof Claims 1 to 9, wherein the solvent of the lacrymator solution is selected among low boiling point solvent, e.g. acetone, methylene chloride and kerosene.

11. Binary ammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 10 where the pyrotechnical composition is a mixture comprising a high rate oxidizable and smoke emitting compound such as ammonium perchlorate and zinc oxide, said composition being bound by PVC.

12. Binary ammunition according to any of Claims 1 toll, wherein chamber A comprises also a lacrymator.

13. Binaryammunition according to Claim 12, comprises also CS or CN admixed with a mineral such as clay and gum arabicum.

14. Binary ammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 13whereinthelacrymatorsolutioncom- prises also a marking compound, e.g. a suitable fluorescent material.

15. Binary ammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 14, wherein the ratio of chamberAto chamber B is about 3:1.

16. Binary ammunition according to any of Claims 1 to 15, wherein the holes are covered by an adhesive aluminium foil.

17. Binaryammunition accordingtoanyof Claims 1 to 16whereinthewell heat-conducting means is an aluminium disc.

18. Binary ammunition substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompany- ing drawings.