EP1637830B1 - Device for the confinement of a plurality of explosive objects - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a drawer (1) with containers (3a, 3b, 3c) surrounded by rectangular shielding sheets (4a, 4b, 4c) around vertical axes (5a, 5b, 5c) to allow openings (7) in upper parts of the containers for introducing explosive objects (6), where the sheets are made of aramid fiber. The containers have bottoms for containing the objects. Each container is connected to the adjacent container by a traction resistant reinforcement (9).

Description

The invention relates to a device for the containment of a plurality of explosive objects or suspected as such, of the type used for the transport or storage of several objects.

The invention relates in particular to a device capable of attenuating the impact of an explosion of one of the objects on the other objects transported by the device.

There are security containers for explosive devices such as ammunition. They are often individual as described in the document EP 1 046 878 , and aim to mitigate the damage of an accidental explosion.

Furthermore, the transport or storage of several explosive objects is often done by individual devices, which can stack by nesting on each other, as described for example in the document EP 061 255 , which forms a starting point for the preamble of claim 1. However, the damage due to an explosion has two types of causes, on the one hand the rapid projection of fragments, and on the other hand the blast effect which usually spreads further than splinters.

In such a design, the accidental explosion of one of the objects, albeit attenuated by the containment provided by the container, creates enough damage to the outside of the container so that objects neighboring the exploded one are scattered, and even may explode in turn.

This problem is particularly crucial for small ammunition, such as grenades. The quantity of ammunition to be made available to a combat unit is important. The transport and storage devices must optimize the density of storage while preventing an accidental explosion from causing an explosion of nearby munitions. It is furthermore desirable that the accidental explosion does not cause the dispersion of ammunition containers adjacent to the explosion, and that in any case the safety of the manipulators is improved.

In the case of transport by car, or by plane, the containment devices are placed in baggage compartments on a more fragile ground than a concrete floor. The blast effect due to an explosion spreads in all directions and primarily to the ground where the device rests. It is then desirable that the blast effect be minimized preferably in the direction of the ground on which the device is placed.

The invention provides a device for the containment of several explosive objects or suspected as such, which overcomes these disadvantages by protecting neighboring objects from an accidental explosion. The invention aims to protect the manipulator transporting explosive objects and the soil on which the device is stored.

According to one aspect of the invention, the device for containing explosive objects, or suspected as such, comprises a plurality of containers at least one of which is likely to be open to introduce the object, and may be closed to confine an accidental explosion. A splinter guard protects the container. Several containers are connected to a container which is adjacent to it by at least one tensile strength reinforcement.

This ensures good protection of neighboring containers against shards of the one where the accidental explosion takes place thanks to the splinterguard that surrounds the container. Containers are also protected from the blast effect by being retained by the tensile strength reinforcement.

In a variant, the reinforcement connecting two adjacent containers separates the two containers by a tensile resistant partition.

Several of these containers each comprise a windshield of splinterguard, substantially cylindrical. The axes of these windings are parallel to each other. Each container has an opening on the same side.

The device comprises a drawer provided with a plurality of containers aligned along a longitudinal axis and disposed in said substantially cylindrical reinforcement and having an axis parallel to that of the windings of the containers.

Advantageously, the device comprises a drawer module comprising the drawer itself, and a sleeve in which the drawer is housed. The sheath comprises a winding of splinter guard, the drawer being arranged in the sheath and covering several containers of the drawer.

The protection of the neighboring container is improved by the fact that the blast of the explosion reaches the neighboring container after having passed through one or more baffles. Indeed, the opening of the container where the explosion is closed by the sheath, while the adjacent container is in a direction perpendicular to the opening.

In one variant, one of the drawer modules comprises means for absorbing the energy of the blast of the explosion.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a frame receiving a plurality of drawers whose longitudinal axes are parallel

Advantageously, the drawers are coplanar, the winding axes of the containers of the drawers are perpendicular to the plane of the drawers, and the containers have an opening on the same side.

Advantageously, the device comprises rolling means and gripping means capable of promoting the movement of the device in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drawers.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for absorbing the energy of the blast of the explosion. These means can be included in the frame. They can also be included in a container.

In a variant, the device comprises intermediate elements able to deform by dissipating energy. In particular, the device comprises a hose wound to the deformable walls, and containing a compressible fluid.

Protection against the blast effect can benefit the manipulator, and the ground on which the device rests.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un tiroir selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un fourreau selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en coupe horizontale du module tiroir, montrant l'impact d'une explosion ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en coupe verticale du module tiroir, montrant l'impact d'une explosion ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un bâti selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 6 est une vue de côté du bâti de la figure 5 ;
• la figure 7 est une vue de côté d'une variante de réalisation de l'invention ; et
• la figure 8 est une vue de côté d'un bâti selon un deuxième mode de réalisation de l'invention montrant des moyens de roulage et des moyens pour absorber de l'énergie.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of some embodiments taken by way of nonlimiting examples illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a drawer according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of a sheath according to a first embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the drawer module, showing the impact of an explosion;
• the figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the drawer module, showing the impact of an explosion;
• the figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of a frame according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 6 is a side view of the mount of the figure 5 ;
• the figure 7 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the invention; and
• the figure 8 is a side view of a frame according to a second embodiment of the invention showing rolling means and means for absorbing energy.

Conventionally, the terms "vertical" and "horizontal" are relative to what is illustrated in the figures. It is understood that the described features follow the object in its movements.

As illustrated on Figures 1 to 4 , the device comprises a drawer 1 illustrated figure 1 and a sheath 2 illustrated figure 2 . The drawer 1 comprises three containers 3a, 3b and 3c.

The container 3a is provided with a winding 4a of a rectangular splinter sheet. Similarly, two other containers 3b and 3c are made by windings 4b and 4c of splinter sheet. Said sheet is wound for each of them in a substantially cylindrical manner about a vertical axis 5a, 5b, 5c leaving in its upper part an opening 7. A bottom 8 indicated in dashed lines figure 4 3b container, opposite the opening 7, and integral with the winding 4b can be made with one or more fabric sheets of sufficient strength to contain the weight of the object 6. For reasons of simplicity of embodiment, the bottom 8 can be made by one or more splinter sheets. The material used for the splinter sheet is for example aramid ballistic type so woven with sufficient density to resist the penetration of shards. The winding 4a, 4b, 4c is multilayer, for example comprises 30 layers. The layers are held in contact with each other so that the winding does not deviate during the explosion. The cohesion of these windings can be ensured by the sewing of the different layers as well as by the friction between the layers.

A tensile strength reinforcement 9 connects each container to at least one neighboring container. The reinforcement is made by a strapping 10 surrounding the three containers 3a, 3b, 3c around a vertical axis so that the openings 7 remain free. The containers 3a, 3b and 3c are aligned along a longitudinal axis 11. The openings 7 of the containers being perpendicular to the axis 11 so that the containers do not communicate directly with each other, which helps to isolate the neighboring containers of the other.

The height of the strapping 10 is at most equal to that of the containers 3a, 3b and 3c so that the openings 7 exceed or at the most flush with the strapping 10. For the sake of simplicity of realization, the height of the strapping 10 may be substantially the same. same as that of the containers 3a, 3b and 3c.

The strapping 10 is sufficiently tensile strength to maintain the cohesion of the drawer 1 despite the explosion of an object 6 inside one of the containers 3a, 3b, 3c. The level of tensile strength required for the reinforcement 9 comprises at least two components. The first component of tensile strength relates to transient stresses of a few nanoseconds to a few tenths of a second during which the reinforcement 9 is able to transmit to its surroundings a part of the energy of the explosion and able to dissipate another part without the drawer being disemboweled by the explosion. The second component of tensile strength concerns long-term stress due to weight and handling of the device and objects 6.

The windings 4a of the containers, the strapping 10, the casing winding 14 may be made by one or more splinter sheets, the material of which may be ballistic aramid.

An explosive object 6 is disposed in the container 3a. Similarly, the containers 3b and 3c could receive an explosive object. The number of containers could be any number greater than or equal to 2. This number is limited only by the size of the explosive object 6 and that of the device which must remain fit for transport or storage.

In a variant of the invention, the shape of the winding 4a is adapted to the ammunition to be transported. Containers of different sizes can be juxtaposed. For example, three oval-shaped main containers receive grenades or main ammunition while, in the open spaces between the main containers, other smaller containers can accommodate secondary ammunition.

The use of ballistic aramid sheets in the strapping 10 makes it possible to produce a tensile strength reinforcement 9 also contributing to the splinter guard function of the windings 4a, 4b, 4c of the containers 3a, 3b, 3c. However, other shapes and other materials of the reinforcement 9 are also suitable for the invention. In a variant, the reinforcement 9 uses a tensile resistant material without being woven as tight as the ballistic aramid. The reinforcement 9 can also use metal son. The reinforcement 9 may also use dielectric wires or sheets which offer the advantage of avoiding the propagation of electric current and thermal propagation from one container to another. The reinforcing material 9 is preferably flame retarded so as not to propagate the flame.

A strap 12 is fixed on the sides of the hoop 10 corresponding to the longitudinal axis 11 so that the strap 12 serves as a handle for pulling the drawer along the longitudinal axis 11.

In an alternative embodiment, the windings 4a, 4b, 4c of the containers 3a, 3b, 3c and the strapping 10 are covered with a covering fabric. This fabric can also have reflective properties to confine the radiation of the explosion.

The figure 2 shows the sheath 2 in which is housed the drawer 1 along the longitudinal axis 11 and thus together form a drawer module 13, see Figures 3 and 4 .

The sheath 2 comprises a casing winding 14 of flaky sheets around the longitudinal axis 11 in a substantially rectangular peripheral path, adapted to the shape of the drawer 1.

The upper wall 15 and the lower wall 16 of the sheath 2 serve to close the containers 3a, 3b and 3c and cover the three containers capable of receiving explosive objects. The material of the casing winding 14 can also be ballistic aramid.

In an alternative embodiment, locations may be provided for non-explosive objects such as objects necessary for the use of these explosive objects, such as accumulators. In this case, these locations may be located outside the strapping 10 or be not covered by the sleeve winding 14 while being integral with the drawer module 3. In another variant of the invention, the casing winding 14 may be coated with a covering coating or an anti-reflective coating for confining the radiation inside the containers. Advantageously, the material of the sheath 2 will be flame retarded to slow the propagation of heat or flames from one container to another.

The Figures 3 and 4 show how the reinforcement 9, tensile strength, helps protect adjacent containers from the one where an object explodes. During an explosion of the object 6, the interior volume of the container 3a where the explosion takes place suddenly inflates. The walls of the container 3a deform and tend to take a partially spherical shape. This deformation pushes the adjacent container 3b in the direction of the arrow 24. The tensile strength of the strapping 10 keeps the adjacent container 3b in place and prevents it from being projected, causes damage.

The drawer 1 is surrounded by the sleeve 2. The upper wall 15 and the lower wall 16 of the sleeve 2 are raised and also tend to take a partially spherical shape so that the blast in the direction of the arrow 38 from the explosion preferably leaks by the clearance between the upper wall 15 and the top edge 18 of the winding 3a and possibly between the lower wall 16 and the lower edge 19 of the winding 3a.

The breath is then channeled and leaks outward preferably along the longitudinal axis 11.

Moreover, the blast also propagates inside the drawer, the wall 15 being raised, a game is established between this wall and the top edge 20 of the windings 3a and 3b. Similarly possibly, a game is established between the lower wall 16 and the lower edges 21 of the windings 3a and 3b. The blast effect reaching the container 3b is attenuated by the baffles 20 and 21. Similarly, the blast effect reaching the container 3c is attenuated by the baffles 22 and 23.

Thus, the effect of the explosion of an object 6 in the container 3a has the effect of pushing the container 3b in a direction 24 and then, more attenuated, the opposite side in a direction 25. Then the container 2c is pushed even more attenuated in one direction 26. The cohesion of the drawer and the holding in place of the containers are provided by the tensile strength of the reinforcements 9.

As illustrated on Figures 5 and 6 , the device comprises a frame 27 in the form of a bag receiving three drawer modules 13a, 13b and 13c, aligned in parallel along longitudinal axes 11a, 11b and 11c. Each of these drawer modules 13a, 13b, 13c is equipped with a sleeve and a drawer as previously described. The frame 27 comprises one or more sheets 28 surrounding all the drawer modules 13a, 13b, 13c so as to make them integral in the same plane. The sheet 28 constitutes a tensile strength reinforcement, in the same way as the strapping 10.

The axes 5aa, 5ba, 5ca winding of the containers of the drawer 13a are perpendicular to the plane of the drawers. The same is true of the axes 5ab, 5bb, 5cb of the windings of the containers of the drawer 13b, as well as the axes 5ac, 5bc, 5cc of the windings of the containers of the drawer 13c.

For example, in a particular embodiment, where the explosive power of the object 6 is 50 g of TNT equivalent, sheets of ballistic aramid are used for all windings. The container windings comprise 30 layers each of ballistic aramid. The strapping 10 comprises 15 layers of ballistic aramid, the sleeve winding 14 comprises 40 layers of ballistic aramid and the frame winding 20 comprises 5 layers of ballistic aramid.

On the figure 7 is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the device without sleeve. Mount 27 then comes directly receive the drawers 1a, 1b, 1c. The longitudinal axes 11a, 11b, 11c of each of these drawers 1a, 1b, 1c are, for example, coplanar. The upper wall 29 of the frame 27 closes the containers of the drawers 1a, 1b, 1c. The wall 29 is made of a splinter material such as ballistic aramid. The frame 27 comprises tensile resistant partitions 30 and isolating the drawers 1a, 1b, 1c from each other. The partitions 30, the upper wall 29 and the bottom wall are made in one piece. The partitions 30 are provided to provide a high tensile strength, to prevent the projection of containers from one drawer to the containers of another drawer. Each of the drawers 1a, 1b, 1c can be opened using a strap 12a, 12b, 12c.

On the figure 8 , the frame 27 comprises a receptacle 37 which receives the suitcase-shaped coil 28, the frame 27 is also equipped with wheels 31 and a handle 32 allowing a manipulator 36 to move the device in a direction 33. The wheels are of fixed axis or pivoting axis. The longitudinal axes 11a, 11b and 11c of the drawer modules 13a, 13b and 13c are perpendicular to the direction of movement 33. The design of the drawer modules having the effect of channeling the blast effect along the longitudinal axes 11a, 11b, 11c , the manipulator 36 has, in the event of an accidental explosion, protection against the effect of blast.

The frame 27 comprises means for absorbing the energy of the blast of the explosion, particularly in the direction of the ground where the device is intended to be rested. A layer of intermediate elements 34 is disposed on the short side of the frame 27 opposite the handle 32. The intermediate layer 34 is directly on the ground when the device is placed in a vertical position. A layer of similar intermediate elements 35 is disposed on the long side of the frame 27 intended to be the most in contact with the ground when the device is laid flat.

The intermediate element layers 34, 35 may be constituted by a wound pipe. The pipe is made of plastic reinforced by a spiral wire around the pipe, the pipe being filled with air. The pipe can be spirally wound or laced, it can be composed of a single hollow body or several concentric pipes.

Thus, when an explosion occurs as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 , the impact of the deformation of the lower wall 16 of the sheath 2 hits the wound pipe which forms a deformable cushion capable of dissipating energy by its deformation. The part of the energy that has been dissipated by the deformation of the layers 34 or 35 makes it possible to attenuate the impact of the blast effect on the ground of the baggage holds of the aircraft or vehicles accommodating the device.

Claims (12)

1. Device for confining an object (6) that is explosive or suspected to be so, comprising at least one container (3a, 3b, 3c) capable of being opened in order to insert the object, and capable of being closed in order to confine an accidental explosion, and characterized in that it comprises a drawer (1) provided with a plurality of containers (3a, 3b, 3c) aligned on the longitudinal axis (11) of the drawer (1), each container (3a, 3b, 3c) comprising a winding of protective shielding sheet (4a, 4b, 4c), of substantially cylindrical shape, each of the axes of winding (5a, 5b, 5c) being parallel to the others, each container (3a, 3b, 3c) having an opening (7) on one and the same side, and being connected to at least one adjacent container by at least one stress-resistant reinforcement (9), and in that it comprises a winding of shielding sheet (14) about the longitudinal axis (11), one wall of which is used to close several containers (3a, 3b, 3c).
2. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement connecting two adjacent containers separates the two containers via a stress-resistant partition (30).
3. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the plurality of containers (3a, 3b, 3c) is placed in the said reinforcement (9), the said reinforcement (9) being of substantially cylindrical shape, and having an axis parallel to that of the windings (4a, 4b, 4c) of the containers.
4. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a drawer module (13) comprising the said drawer (1) and a sheath (2) comprising the said winding (14) about the axis (11) of the drawer (1) and covering several containers of the drawer (1), the drawer (1) being placed in the sheath (2).
5. Device according to Claim 4, characterized in that at least one of the said drawer modules (13) comprises means for absorbing the blast energy of the explosion.
6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a frame (27) accommodating a plurality of drawers, the longitudinal axes (11a, 11b, 11c) of which are parallel.
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a frame (27) accommodating a plurality of coplanar drawers, the winding axes (5) of the containers of which are perpendicular to the plane of the drawers, and the containers of which have an opening (7) on the same side.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a rolling means (31) and a grasping means (32) capable of promoting the movement of the device in a direction (33) perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (11) of the drawers.
9. Device according to either one of Claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the frame comprises means (34, 35) for absorbing the blast energy of the explosion.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the said containers comprises means for absorbing the energy of the blast of the explosion.
11. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises intermediate elements capable of deforming while dissipating energy.
12. Device according to Claim 11, characterized in that it comprises at least one wound pipe provided with deformable walls and containing a compressible fluid.

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