EP0023179B1 - Safety arming device for explosive devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an armament security device for explosive devices such as in particular mines and missiles, which comprises a shutter for interrupting the pyrotechnic chain ensuring essential security such as storage, handling, etc., and a pyrotechnic lock whose operation allows the alignment of the pyrotechnic chain, therefore the arming of the device.

Most of the known weapons security devices call for their operation to the traditional environmental forces which exist at the start of operational activity (acceleration, rotation of the machine or borrowing of gas). However, on certain vehicles these environmental forces are nonexistent or of an insufficient level to allow the use of these devices. This is particularly the case in mines where none of these forces exist, and also in missiles where only borrowing gas can be used to constitute a single weapon condition. In fact, the current design standards relating to the security devices for arming airborne vehicles impose two independent arming conditions.

An object of the present invention will be to provide a missile system capable of fulfilling the second condition of armament.

Other devices use the detection of the objective to control their arming, thus ensuring the interruption of the pyrotechnic chain until the final moment preceding the initiation of the military charge, while the first devices are armed as soon as the operational activity. Among these devices, the one described in patent FR-A-2 319 874 is known. It has certain drawbacks relating mainly to the mechanical strength of the bolt, the breaking of which controls arming; the discrimination between a shock, accidental vibrations, and its normal operation can be difficult. In addition, the techniques chosen imply a complexity of the kinematics of the weaponry, a large size, displacements of pyrotechnic components and the corresponding electrical connections before their operation, hence poor reliability.

Patent FR-A-2174405 describes a step-by-step mechanical drive device comprising a stator and a rotor. An impeller is used to generate gases to drive the rotor in rotation.

The present invention consists in producing a device making it possible to overcome the drawbacks of the aforementioned system while being simple in design, therefore of low cost price and of high reliability, of reduced bulk, capable of withstanding high mechanical stresses taking into account the harsh environment in which it is likely to operate.

• - une pièce mobile en translation ou en rotation logée dans un support verrouillée dans une position initiale dite de sécurité et capable de prendre une position finale dite d'armement,
• - un moyen de commande constitué par un verrou pyrotechnique générateur de gaz, permettant à la pièce mobile d'être libérée de sa position initiale,
• - un moyen fournissant l'énergie nécessaire à la pièce mobile pour passer de sa position initiale à sa position finale, caractérisé en ce que le moyen de commande est engagé partiellement dans le support et dans un logement borgne, de la pièce mobile et se dégageant de la pièce mobile par réaction après commande de celui-ci.

The subject of the invention is an armament security device which can be used in particular in a mine or a missile mainly comprising:

• a movable part in translation or in rotation housed in a support locked in an initial so-called safety position and capable of taking a final so-called arming position,
• a control means constituted by a gas generator pyrotechnic lock, allowing the moving part to be released from its initial position,
• - A means supplying the energy necessary for the moving part to pass from its initial position to its final position, characterized in that the control means is partially engaged in the support and in a blind housing, of the moving part and emerging of the moving part by reaction after command thereof.

Another characteristic of the invention consists in that the pyrotechnic lock, moved by a means having stored the reaction energy, comes to be placed in an end position, partially engaged in the support and in a second housing of the moving part, thus ensuring the locking thereof in the final position called arming. The means having stored the reaction energy can for example consist of a spring.

• la figure 1 représente une vue selon l'axe de rotation du volet pyrotechnique en position de sécu rité,
• la figure 2 représente une coupe du dispositif en position de sécurité selon la ligne 1.1 de la figure 1,
• la figure 3 représente une coupe du dispositif en position de sécurité selon la ligne 11.11 de la figure 1,
• la figure 4 représente le dispositif de la figure 1 mis en position d'armement,
• la figure 5 représente une coupe du dispositif en position d'armement selon la ligne III,III,
• la figure 6 représente une coupe du dispositif en position d'armement selon la ligne IV.IV.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of a particular embodiment which follows and which is given with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a view along the axis of rotation of the pyrotechnic shutter in the safety position,
• FIG. 2 represents a section of the device in the safety position according to line 1.1 of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 3 represents a section of the device in the safety position along line 11.11 of FIG. 1,
• FIG. 4 represents the device of FIG. 1 put in the cocking position,
• FIG. 5 represents a section of the device in the cocking position along line III, III,
• FIG. 6 represents a section of the device in the cocking position along line IV.IV.

The device according to the invention is housed in a support 1 closed by a cover 2. The pyrotechnic chain is composed of a primer-detonator 3 preferably electric and housed in the support 1, of a detonation relay 4 housed in the thickness of a moving part called flap 5 and of a power relay 6 loaded with secondary explosive which makes it possible to transmit the detonation to the main charge.

In the unarmed position, the flap 5 serves as a pyrotechnic chain switch by its presence between the detonator initiator 3 and the power relay 6. This flap 5 can pivot in the support 1 along its axis 7, but it is held in the initial safety position by a pin 8 and by the preferably electric igniter which serves as a pyrotechnic lock.

This igniter is partially placed in the support 1 and in a blind hole 10 made in the flap 5.

On the other hand, when it is activated, it generates gases by its lower face 11 in contact or in the vicinity of the blind hole 10. Its necessary pyrotechnic characteristics such as the adapted ignition power, the low combustion residues, and the mechanical characteristics such as for example the deformations after operation, as well as the distance with respect to the other pyrotechnic components are chosen so as to obtain correct operation of the device. An elastic system 12 keeps the igniter in the shutter locking position and absorbs the mechanical stresses of the environment.

The shutter 5 is subjected to a torque due to the spring 13 and is held in its initial safety position by the igniter 9, and by the pin8. The shutter also has a hole 15 in which the igniter 9 is housed after rotation of the shutter, that is to say when the latter has reached its final position called arming.

The operation of the device is as follows: the pin 8 is released either manually or automatically, the igniter 9 is set on fire and backs up under the effect of the gases it produces, it unlocks the flap 5 which is rotated by the spring 13. The flap 5 passes from the initial safety position to the final arming position determined by the position of the stop 14. In this final position the hole 15 is located opposite the igniter which under the action of the spring 12 relocks the shutter.

The detonator initiator 3, the detonator relay 4 and the power relay 6 are aligned: the device is armed.

The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible to ensure double security during storage and handling in the event of inadvertent operation of the detonator primer, by maintaining the flap in the safety position thanks to the pin and the pyrotechnic lock, as well as extended security over time (during the laying of a minefield, or the flight of a missile) by the fact that the pyrotechnic lock can only be supplied with energy at the time of detection of the objective and just before the operation of the main load. In addition, its simple design gives it great reliability, great ease of implementation, and a low cost price.

Of course the embodiment described above is not limiting. Thus the switch flap can undergo translation rather than rotation. The pyrotechnic lock can also be arranged perpendicular to the switch flap or tangent in the case of a rotation. In addition, the alignment of the pyrotechnic chain can be obtained not only by erasing a screen, but also by moving the detonator primer. These various modifications made by those skilled in the art fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims (3)

1. An arming safety device, for use on mines, missiles or other weapons systems, comprising :

- a mobile component (5) capable of rotatory or longitudinal travel housed in a support (1), locked in an initial position - « safety position »

- and capable of taking up a final position - « armed position » ;

- a control mechanism (9) consisting of a gas- generating pyrotechnic lock, which can be used used to release said mobile component from its initial position ;

- a mechanism (13) which supplies the energy required for said mobile component (5) to move from initial to final position ; safety device wherein said control mechanism (9) is partially engaged in said support (1) and in a blind housing, and detaches itself by reaction from said mobile component (5) when said mobile component (5) has been activated.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1, wherein said pyrotechnic lock (9), driven by a mechanism (12) which has stored the reaction energy, moves into its final position, partially engaged in said support (1) and in a second housing (15) on said mobile component (5), thus locking said mobile component (5) in its final « armed position.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2, wherein said reaction energy storage mechanism (12) is a spring.

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