U.S. patent application number 11/150323 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-03 for container for ammunition.
This patent application is currently assigned to GIAT Industries. Invention is credited to Stephane Guibert, Elsa Jurkiw, Jean-Francois Noel Du Payrat.
Application Number | 20080000781 11/150323 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34942359 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080000781 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Noel Du Payrat; Jean-Francois ;
et al. |
January 3, 2008 |
CONTAINER FOR AMMUNITION
Abstract
A container for ammunition of the type comprising a case inside
which an inner casing receiving the ammunition is able to slide
between two axial positions, one in which it blocks the ammunition
and the other in which it unblocks the ammunition, the inner casing
incorporating a front sleeve having flexible fingers, such sleeve
cooperating in its blocking position with a fixed limit stop
integral with the case and ensuring the retention of the fingers on
a zone of the projectile to limit its translation, such container
wherein it incorporates means ensuring the radial spacing of the
flexible fingers at a distance from the projectile in the
unblocking position of the inner casing.
Inventors: |
Noel Du Payrat; Jean-Francois;
(Nantes, FR) ; Jurkiw; Elsa; (Nantes, FR) ;
Guibert; Stephane; (Viellevigne, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STEPTOE & JOHNSON LLP
1330 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Assignee: |
GIAT Industries
Versailles
FR
|
Family ID: |
34942359 |
Appl. No.: |
11/150323 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 39/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/003 |
International
Class: |
F42B 39/00 20060101
F42B039/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 25, 2004 |
FR |
04. 07109 |
Claims
1. A container for ammunition of the type comprising a case inside
which an inner casing receiving the ammunition is able to slide
between two axial positions, one position of said two positions in
which said inner casing blocks said ammunition and the other of
said two positions in which said inner casing unblocks said
ammunition, said inner casing incorporating a front sleeve having
flexible fingers, said sleeve cooperating in its blocking position
with a fixed limit stop integral with said case and ensuring the
retention of said fingers on a zone of said projectile to limit its
translation, wherein said container incorporates means ensuring the
radial spacing of said flexible fingers at a distance from said
projectile in the unblocking position of said inner casing.
2. A container according to claim 1, wherein said means ensuring
said radial spacing of said fingers comprise a cylinder coaxial to
said inner casing and integral with said fixed limit stop.
3. A container according to claim 2, wherein said fixed limit stop
incorporates a conical profile cooperating, in said blocking
position, with a matching profile on said fingers of said
sleeve.
4. A container according to claim 3, wherein said fixed limit stop
comprises a conical portion connected to said coaxial cylinder by
at least one radial rib.
5. A container according to claim 4, wherein said sleeve
incorporates slots separating said fingers, said slots intended to
receive said ribs on said fixed limit stop.
6. A container according to claim 3, wherein said fixed limit stop
is integral with a shim made of a compressible material fixed to
said case.
7. A container according to claim 6, wherein said shim of
compressible material incorporates a conical profile extending the
profile of said limit stop.
8. A container according to claim 1, wherein said sleeve of said
inner casing surrounds one front part of said projectile, an inner
surface of said sleeve forming a support for the body of said
ammunition.
9. A container according to claim 8, wherein said sleeve is
globally conical in shape surrounding a front part of said
projectile, said sleeve extended by a seat fastened to said inner
casing.
10. A container according to claim 1, wherein said container
incorporates at least one cylindrical shim integral with said inner
casing, said shim intended to be placed between said casing and
said ammunition.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of invention
[0002] The technical scope of the invention is that of ammunition
transportation containers and namely containers enabling the
blocking of explosive ammunition.
[0003] 2. Description of the related art
[0004] A container is known, namely by patent EP1101077 that
comprises an inner casing able to be moved from a blocking position
to an unblocking position. This inner casing incorporates a front
part comprising flexible tongues that press on the front pocket of
a fin-stabilized projectile.
[0005] In the blocked position, the tongues are held radially by a
fixed case. In the unblocked position, traction on the ammunition
radially deforms the tongues allowing the ammunition to be
extracted from the container.
[0006] When the container falls on its closing lid, the ammunition
is held in place by tongues that are not able to deform radially
thanks to the case.
[0007] Such a container is well adapted to the retention of
fin-stabilized ammunition whose projectile incorporates a front
pocket whose substantially conical profile enables the tongues to
be deformed and which enables the ammunition to be extracted.
[0008] It is, however, unsuitable for the blocking of ammunition
equipped with a shaped charge explosive projectile that does not
incorporate such a front pocket.
[0009] Common explosive projectiles have a bottle-shaped profile
incorporating a substantially calibred body extended by a
sub-calibred neck tipped by an impact switch.
[0010] The only abutment surface available for such a projectile is
a flange ring generally placed alongside the impact switch. But
such an abutment surface is perpendicular to the ammunition's axis
and is not able to ensure the spacing of the retention fingers.
This results in a risk of the ammunition being stuck in the
container preventing its subsequent removal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The aim of the invention is to propose a container that
overcomes such drawbacks.
[0012] Thus, the container according to the invention efficiently
blocks the ammunition whatever the profile of the available bearing
surface on the projectile body.
[0013] The invention thus relates to a container for ammunition of
the type comprising a case inside which an inner casing receiving
the ammunition is able to slide between two axial positions, one in
which it blocks the ammunition and the other in which it unblocks
the ammunition, the inner casing incorporating a front sleeve
having flexible fingers, such sleeve cooperating in its blocking
position with a fixed limit stop integral with the case and
ensuring the retention of the fingers on a zone of the projectile
to limit its translation, such container wherein it incorporates
means ensuring the radial spacing of the flexible fingers at a
distance from the projectile in the unblocking position of the
inner casing.
[0014] According to a particular embodiment, the means ensuring the
radial spacing of the fingers may comprise a cylinder coaxial to
the inner casing and integral with the fixed limit stop.
[0015] The fixed limit stop may incorporate a conical profile
cooperating, in the blocking position, with a matching profile on
the sleeve's fingers.
[0016] According to a particular embodiment, the fixed limit stop
may comprise a conical portion connected to the coaxial cylinder by
at least one radial rib.
[0017] The sleeve will, in this case, incorporate slots separating
the fingers, such slots intended to receive the ribs on the fixed
limit stop.
[0018] The fixed limit stop may be integral with a shim made of a
compressible material fixed to the case.
[0019] The shim of compressible material may advantageously
incorporate a conical profile extending that of the limit stop.
[0020] The sleeve of the inner casing will surround one front part
of the projectile, an inner surface of the sleeve forming a support
for the ammunition body.
[0021] The sleeve may be globally conical in shape surrounding a
front part of the projectile, such sleeve extended by a seat
fastened to the inner casing.
[0022] The container may incorporate at least one cylindrical shim
integral with the inner casing, such shim intended to be placed
between said casing and the ammunition.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The invention will become more apparent from the following
description of a particular embodiment, such description being made
with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a container according
to the invention enclosing a piece of ammunition, such container
being shown in the blocking position,
[0025] FIG. 2 is an analogous view to the previous one showing the
container in the unblocking position with its lid removed,
[0026] FIGS. 3a and 3b are views of the fixed limit stop alone,
FIG. 3b being a section along the broken planes marked AA in FIG.
3a, FIG. 3a being a rear view of the limit stop,
[0027] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fixed limit stop
alone,
[0028] FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of the sleeve alone.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] With reference to FIG. 1, a container 1 according to the
invention comprises a case 2 inside which an inner casing 3
enclosing ammunition 4 is able to slide.
[0030] The case 2 of the container is generally cylindrical in
shape. It is advantageously made of cardboard and is closed off at
one end by a crimped metallic bottom 5.
[0031] The case is closed at its other end for example by a
threaded link 7.
[0032] Here the ammunition 4 is explosive tank ammunition. It
comprises a combustible case 4a integral with a base 4d and a
shaped charge projectile 4b incorporating a sub-calibred nose 4c
tipped by an impact switch 8 fitted with a flange ring 9.
[0033] The inner casing 3 incorporates a cylindrical body formed of
two coaxial cardboard tubes 3a and 3b, such body being mounted able
to slide inside the case 2. Cylindrical shims 23a, 23b, 23c, 23d
(see FIG. 2) are placed between the ammunition 4 and the casing 3.
These shims improve the retention of the ammunition and ensure that
the radial shocks are absorbed.
[0034] The inner tube 3b has a collar 24 made of a plastic material
that is in contact with a circular rim of the base 4d.
[0035] In accordance with the invention, the inner casing 3 also
incorporates a front sleeve 10 of a globally conical shape. This
sleeve surrounds the nose 4c of the ammunition 4 and part of the
front of the body 4b of the ammunition 4.
[0036] FIG. 5 shows this sleeve 10 alone. It is made of a plastic
material and incorporates a rear cylindrical part 11 that is fixed,
for example by bonding to the inner tube 3b of the casing 3. A
shoulder 12 separates the conical part and the cylindrical seat of
the sleeve 10. This shoulder acts as a mechanical limit stop when
the sleeve 10 is mounted onto the body of the inner casing 3. The
shoulder 12 enables the mechanical compressive stresses to be
transmitted between the sleeve 10 and the tubes 3a and 3b of the
casing 3 (tubes being assembled, for example, by stapling).
[0037] As may be seen in FIG. 5, the sleeve 10 has flexible fingers
13 at its front part that are separated by slots 14.
[0038] This FIG. 5 is a section along a median plane passing
through two fingers 13 of the sleeve. Here, there are six fingers
13 separated by six slots 14 evenly spaced angularly. The fingers
13 incorporate a thickened front part 13a finished off by a flat
part 10b perpendicular to the axis 15 of the sleeve (which is also
the axis of the casing 3, the ammunition 4 and the case 2).
[0039] The fingers 13 are applied on the nose 4c of the projectile
behind the flange ring 9. The flat part 10b thus forms an abutment
surface preventing the ammunition from being extracted.
[0040] Thus, the sleeve 10 ensures that the inertial stresses of
the ammunition 4 are taken up further to a fall in direction F.
These inertial stresses are communicated by the projectile, via the
sleeve 10, to the inner casing 3 and to the collar 24.
[0041] The lid 6 has a bottom shim 18 made of deformable foam
itself pressing against a shim of rigid polystyrene 19 surrounded
by a ring of cardboard 28. This ring is crushed by the collar 24
during a fall in direction F.
[0042] The sleeve 10 has a conical external surface 10a that is
intended to cooperate with the internal surface of a limit stop
16.
[0043] This limit stop 16 may be seen more particularly in FIGS.
3a, 3b and 4. It comprises a cone portion 16a and an internal
coaxial cylinder 16b connected by radial ribs 16c (here there are
six ribs 16c evenly spaced angularly, but only one rib is
required).
[0044] The limit stop 16 is made here as a single part of plastic
material. As may be more particularly seen in FIG. 3a, the ribs 16c
extend axially over the full height of the limit stop 16. As will
be explained hereafter, the inner cylinder 16b is of sufficient
height to ensure sufficient opening of the sleeve 10 in its
unblocking position, this in order to enable the passage of the
flange ring 9 of the projectile 4b. The base of the inner cylinder
16b is in the same plane as the large base 17 of the limit stop 16.
The inner profile 18 of the limit stop is a cone with the same
taper as the external surface 10a of the sleeve 10. The internal
cylinder 16b has an inner diameter enabling the passage of the
collar 9 on the nose 4c of the projectile 4b.
[0045] When the container is being assembled, the slots 14
separating the fingers 13 receive the limit stop's ribs 16. The
sleeve 10 thus comes into contact without hindrance with the limit
stop 16 despite the presence of the internal cylinder 16b which is
thus positioned inside the sleeve 10.
[0046] The fixed limit stop 16 is integral with a shim 20 of
compressible material (for example foam) which is itself made
integral with the case 2 (by bonding or stapling).
[0047] The shim 20 thus incorporates a conical inner bore 20a
shaped so as to receive the limit stop 16. The latter is
immobilized axially with respect to the shim 20 between two
counter-sinks 21a and 21b. The limit stop 16 is mounted in the
flexible shim 20 by being clicked into position between the
counter-sinks. This is enabled by the flexibility of the material
constituting the shim.
[0048] Furthermore, the shim 20 incorporates a conical profile 22
extending that of the limit stop 16 which is also applied against
the external profile of the sleeve 10 in its blocking position.
[0049] When the container 1 receives a piece of ammunition 4 and is
closed (position shown in FIG. 1), the sleeve 10 is in contact with
the limit stop 16 (as well as with the conical profile 22). Both
limit stop 16 and profile 22 thus prevent the radial opening of the
fingers 13. This contact stiffens the fingers 13 by preventing them
from buckling under the compressive stresses communicated by the
ammunition 4. The fingers 13 thus remaining positioned behind the
flange ring 9 of the ammunition 4.
[0050] During a fall of the container 1 in direction G, the body 4b
of the projectile abuts against the sleeve 10 by its calibred front
part 4e (FIG. 1).
[0051] The inertial stresses on the ammunition are communicated by
the sleeve 10 to the limit stop 16 and the shim 20 which is crushed
to absorb the shock.
[0052] As may be more particularly seen in FIG. 2, to remove the
ammunition from the container, the inner casing 3 is made to slide
towards the rear of the container. During this 35 movement, the
fingers 13 are radially spread by the internal cylinder 16b which
remains immobile with respect to the case 2. The fingers thus allow
the passage of the flange ring 9 of the ammunition 4. The
ammunition is thus no longer blocked in translation and may be
removed without difficulty from the container 1.
[0053] To introduce ammunition into the container, the casing 3 is
also made to slide rearwards, thereby spreading the fingers 13 by
means of the internal cylinder 16b and enabling the ammunition to
be introduced.
[0054] Note that, by design, the elasticity of the fingers 13 of
the sleeve 10 would enable the passage of the nose's flange ring 9
during the introduction of the ammunition (if the fingers 13 were
not spread enough by the internal cylinder 16b).
[0055] Different variants are possible without departing from the
scope of the invention. It is thus possible for a container to be
defined whose sleeve is of a different shape and which is adapted
to the profile of another type of projectile.
[0056] In any case, flexible fingers pressing on a zone of the
projectile will be provided, the fingers being simply held in their
blocking position by a fixed limit stop and spread by suitable
means at a distance from the projectile in their unblocking
position to allow the ammunition to be removed.
* * * * *