Projectile, Such as a Shell, Which is Equipped with a Bulkhead Shield

• US 20070227392A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDA Armements SAS (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: TDA Armements SAS (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Charles, Bruno, Jean-Francois, Denis
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 102/517
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 30/08 Ordnance projectiles or missiles, e.g. shells
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 19/02 Fuze bodies; Fuze housings

Abstract

The present invention relates to a bulkhead shield particularly of a projectile with a pyrotechnic charge, situated between the pyrotechnic portion and the command and control portion. The bulkhead shield comprises at least: one wall pierced by a duct; an end-cap consisting of a support portion and a portion engaged in the duct leaving a space between itself and the wall of the duct, the two portions being connected by a mechanical weakness zone; the support portion pressing on the wall, at the front, so that the engaged portion separates from the support portion under the effect of an external pressure to come into contact with the inner wall of the duct and close the space. The invention applies in particular to shells whose detonation is programmed a given delay after impact on the target.

Claims

1. A projectile, comprising at least two portions separated by a bulkhead shield, wherein the bulkhead shield comprising:

one wall pierced by a duct;

an end-cap consisting of a support portion and a portion engaged in the duct leaving a space between itself and the wall of the duct, the two portions being connected by a mechanical weakness zone;

the support portion pressing on the wall, at the front, so that the engaged portion separates from the support portion under the effect of an external pressure to come into contact with the inner wall of the duct and close the space, a connection for transmitting signals passing through the space left between the wall of the duct and the end-cap.

2. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein an opening is made in the support in line with the space.

3. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct comprising one cylindrical portion and one conical portion, the conical portion being oriented toward the front.

4. The projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the engaged portion of the end-cap is cone-shaped.

5. The projectile as claimed in claim 4, wherein the conical portion of the duct and the conical portion of the end-cap have substantially the same angle.

6. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct comprising a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion of larger cross section, the cylindrical portion of larger cross section being oriented toward the front.

7. The projectile as claimed in claim 6, wherein the engaged portion of the end-cap is of cylindrical shape with a larger cross section than the cross section of the first cylindrical portion of the duct in order to close the latter when the end-cap comes into contact with it.

8. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct and the end-cap are axi-symmetric.

9. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct and the end-cap are centered on the axis of symmetry of the bulkhead shield.

10. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical weakness zone is a thinner zone of the support portion.

11. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical weakness zone is a rod connecting the portion engaged in the duct to the support portion.

12. The projectile as claimed in claim 11, wherein one portion comprises a pyrotechnic charge and the other portion placed at the front of the projectile comprises a command and control system, the front of the bulkhead shield being oriented toward this command and control portion.

13. The projectile as claimed in claim 11, wherein it is a rocket.

14. The projectile as claimed in claim 11, wherein it is a shell.

15. The projectile as claimed in claim 14, wherein the bulkhead shield is placed at the eye of the shell.