Projectile, such as a shell, which is equipped with a bulkhead shield

• US 7,493,860 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Issued: 02/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDA Armements SAS (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: TDA Armements SAS (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Denis, Jean-Francois, Charles, Bruno
• Primary Examiner(s): Bergin; James S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troy; Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US11/571,266
• Publication Number:
  US 20070227392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,341 Days
• Field of Search: 102/227, 102/230, 102/275, 102/489, 102/473, 102/499, 102/481, 102/500, 102/382, 102/396
• US Class Current: 102/473
• 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:

a front portion for command and control;

a rear portion for containing a detonator and a pyrotechnic charge;

an electrical connection between the front portion and the rear portion for passing signals from an electronic circuit in the front portion to a detonator in the rear portion, and

a bulkhead shield dividing the front and rear portions;

wherein the bulkhead shield comprises;

a wall having a front surface facing the front portion;

a duct through the wall between the front and rear portions and through which the electrical connector extends;

an end cap having a closure portion shaped to close the duct; and

a support portion connected to the closure portion through a weakness zone which is substantially weaker than the remainder of the end cap, the support portion abutting the front surface of the wall and the closure portion being positioned over the front of the duct, the end cap and the duct being separated by a passage through which the electrical connection passes, the arrangement being such that rearward pressure on the end cap shears the weakness zone to detach the closure portion and pushes the closure portion rearward into the duct to close the duct to protect the rear portion from debris.

2. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct comprising a cylindrical rear section and a part-conical front section, which broadens towards the front portion.

3. The projectile as claimed in claim 2, wherein the closure portion is conical to fit in the part-conical front section.

4. The projectile as claimed in claim 3, wherein the part-conical front section of the duct and the closure portion have substantially the same conical half-angle.

5. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the duct comprising a cylindrical rear section and a cylindrical front section of larger cross section than the rear section.

6. The projectile as claimed in claim 5, wherein the closure portion of the end-cap is cylindrical with a larger cross section than the cross section of the cylindrical rear section of the duct, in order to close the duct when the closure portion is pushed into contact with it.

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

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

9. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weakness zone is a thinned zone of the support portion.

10. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weakness zone is a rod connecting the closure portion to the support portion.

11. The projectile as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rear portion comprises a pyrotechnic charge and the front portion comprises a command and control system connected to the electrical connection.

12. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is a rocket.

13. The projectile as claimed in claim 1, wherein it is a shell.

14. The projectile as claimed in claim 13, wherein the bulkhead shield is placed at the eye of the shell.

15. The projectile as claimed in claim 10, wherein the detonator is connected to the electrical connection.