Detonator System for Hand Grenades

Abstract

The invention relates to a detonator system for hand grenades, having an ignition element (1) which after initiation triggers a delay and safety device, which, with a time delay after the initiation, fires a detonator (7), which then ignites an ignition booster (8), wherein the delay and safety device includes a dual safety device of two independent parts. So that the hand grenade detonator system according to the invention includes a purely pyrotechnic detonator system instead of a pyrotechnic-mechanical system, it is suggested that the delay and safety device consists of two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices with different delay times—specifically a safety element (3) and a delay element (4)—wherein the delay time of the safety element (3) is shorter than the delay time of the delay element (4), and the safety element (3) includes a timing composition which, once it has burned through, ignites a gas charge (9), the gas of which opens blocking elements (5), and the delay element (4) includes a firing charge, and the firing charge is only in operative connection with the detonator (7) after the opening of the blocking elements (5).

Claims

1. A detonator system for hand grenades, having an ignition element which after initiation triggers a delay and safety device which, with a delay after the initiation, fires a detonator, which subsequently fires an ignition booster, wherein the delay and safety device contains a dual safety device of two independent parts, characterized in that the delay and safety device consists of two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices with different delay times—specifically a safety element and a delay element wherein the delay time of the safety element is shorter than the delay time of the delay element, and the safety element includes a timing composition which, once it has burned through, ignites a gas charge, the gas of which opens blocking elements, and the delay element includes a firing charge, and the firing charge is only in operative connection with the detonator after the opening of the blocking elements.

2. The detonator system according to claim 1, wherein the timing composition and the gas charge of the safety element are arranged in a safety element chamber, and the timing composition and the firing charge of the delay element are arranged in a delay element chamber, and both chambers open into a working chamber to which the detonator is connected, and there is a blocking element, as a valve-like structure, preferably a one-way valve, a flap valve, or a bursting disk between the working chamber and the delay element chamber, and also between the working chamber and the detonator, wherein the gas of the gas charge can open the blocking elements, but the firing charge and/or the pressure thereof cannot.

3. The detonator system according to claim 2, wherein the ignition element is a primer which can be initiated by a firing pin.

4. The detonator system according to claim 1, wherein the fire cone of the ignition element leads into a cavity, and the cavity is connected with the safety element chamber and the delay element chamber, wherein a cone is arranged in the cavity in front of the two chambers and directs the fire cone into the two chambers and to the two ignition delay devices.

5. The detonator system according to claim 1, wherein the lower ends of the safety element and of the delay element (4) are each equipped with a throttle cup consisting of a cone with individual, evenly distributed bore holes, or the lower ends are equipped with a threaded screw.

6. The detonator system according to claim 1, wherein the blocking element is a bursting disk with predetermined breaking points on one side, or the blocking element is a two-part flap valve made of metal, consisting of two superimposed disks.

7. The detonator system according to claim 1, wherein the detonator can slide in a detonator housing from a safety position into a firing position, and is locked in both positions, wherein the gas generated by the gas charge slides the detonator out of its safety position and into its firing position.

8. The detonator system according to claim 7, wherein one bead or a plurality of beads is/are preferably arranged on the outer circumference of the detonator, and latch(es) into corresponding recesses in the housing.

9. The detonator system according to claim 1, wherein the detonator can slide in a detonator housing from a safety position into a firing position, and a sliding piston is inserted into a bore hole, able to slide from a safety position into a firing position, wherein the piston supports the detonator via an elbow, and when the piston slides into its firing position, the detonator is likewise pushed into its firing position.

10. The detonator system according to, claim 1, wherein a spring, a safety shutter, and a safety pin are arranged in the cavity, wherein the spring is supported on one side on the cone and on the other side on the safety shutter, and the safety shutter is supported on the safety pin, and when the safety pin is pulled, the spring slides the safety shutter toward the ignition element, thereby enabling ignition of the ignition delay device.

11. The detonator system according to claim 1, wherein the ignition element is arranged in a cup which is only fixed via a lacquer in a capsule holder, such that if the ignition element is unintentionally ignited, a jacket blowout occurs which prevents ignition of the ignition delay devices.

Description

[0026] The invention is further described below with reference to the figures.

[0027] Description of the detonator system according to the invention (operating principle):

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a hand grenade, with a detonator system according to the invention. FIG. 2a shows the detonator system at activation, FIG. 2b approx. 2 seconds after activation, and FIG. 2c approx. 4 seconds after activation. Like numbers refer to the same object.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a detonator system for hand grenades, having an ignition element 1 which triggers a delay and safety device after initiation, which fires a detonator 7 with a time delay after the initiation, which then fires an ignition booster 8, wherein the delay and safety device includes a dual safety device of two independent parts. Two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices with different delay times are used, specifically a safety element 3 and a delay element 4, wherein the delay of the safety element 3 is shorter than the delay of the delay element 4, and the safety element 3 includes a timing composition which, once it has burned through, ignites a gas charge 9, the gas of which opens blocking elements 5, and the delay element 4 includes a timing composition and firing charge, and the firing charge is only in operative connection with the detonator 7 after the opening of the blocking elements 5.

[0030] The timing composition and the gas charge 9 of the safety element 3 are arranged in a safety element chamber, and the timing composition and the firing charge of the delay element 4 are arranged in a delay element chamber. Both chambers open into a working chamber 34 with which the detonator 7 is connected. A blocking element is arranged, as a valve-like structure 5—preferably a one-way valve, a flap valve or a bursting disk—between the working chamber and the delay element chamber, and also between the working chamber and the detonator, wherein the gas of the gas charge 9 can open the blocking elements, but the firing charge and/or the pressure thereof cannot.

[0031] The ignition element 1 is a primer which can be initiated by a firing pin 2 (see FIG. 2).

[0032] The fire cone of the ignition element 1 leads into a cavity 12, and the cavity 12 is connected to the safety element chamber and the delay element chamber, wherein a cone 13 is arranged in the cavity 12 in front of the two chambers, and directs the fire cone into the two chambers and to the two ignition delay devices 3, 4.

[0033] The blocking element 5 can be a bursting disk having predetermined breaking points on one side, or the blocking element 5 can be a two-part flap valve 20 made of metal, consisting of two superimposed disks (see FIGS. 6 to 8).

[0034] FIG. 2a shows the initiation process. The firing pin 2 is triggered and is accelerated in the direction of the ignition element 1 (known, for example, from EP 2 516 958 B1). As the ignition chain proceeds further, there is a dual ignition of two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices. A pyrotechnic ignition delay device, namely the safety element 3, requires approximately 2-3 seconds for the ignition gap. This safety element 3 then ignites a small gas charge 9 which has a functional connection to the end thereof (‘gas charge’ means a gas charge and/or pressure generator). This gas charge 9 generates a gas and therefore a pressure which opens two blocking devices 5. The delay element—also called an ignition delay device 4—can only act freely on the detonator 7, and therefore on the ignition booster 8, once the one-way valves 5 are opened. The explosion only occurs once this has happened.

[0035] FIG. 2b shows the process after approx. 2 seconds. The ignition element 1 has been initiated by the firing pin 2, and has therefore ignited both the safety element 3 and the delay element 4. The safety element 3 has, as shown in FIG. 2b, burned through, and has opened the one-way flaps functioning as the blocking elements 5. However, the delay element 4 has only partially burned through.

[0036] FIG. 2c shows the second step, after about 4 seconds. The delay element 4 has burned through, and has created a firing cone 6 which then activates the detonator 7, which then ignites the ignition booster 8.

[0037] An essential feature of the invention is that the blocking elements 5 are only opened by the safety element 3 which ignites the small gas charge 9. The delay element 4 and/or its pressure is sized such that it cannot open the blocking elements 5.

[0038] Construction

[0039] FIGS. 3a and 3b show the principle of the detonator system according to the invention. FIG. 3a shows the upper part and FIG. 3b shows the lower part of the detonator system, also called a detonator. The detonator preferably has a primary jacket 10 with two separate tube systems 11, each of which contains a separate ignition delay device, particularly the safety element 3 and the delay element 4. The primary jacket 10 is preferably equipped with two threadings. The upper is used for fixing the detonator head 30, with the firing pin 2. The lower threading fixes the hand grenade body.

[0040] This detonator system requires two pyrotechnic ignition delay devices, wherein the safety element 3 ultimately generates pressure, and the delay element 4 ultimately generates a jet of fire and/or a fire cone 6. The two ignition delay devices 3, 4 are preferably ignited via a common ignition element 1, for example a primer. The cavity 12 (see also FIG. 2) between the ignition element 1 and the ignition delay device is equipped with a cone 13 to direct the fire cone 6, starting from the ignition element 1, to the two ignition delay devices.

[0041] FIG. 4 shows this cone 13 in a cross-section of the primary jacket 10.

[0042] The two ignition delay devices 3, 4 have different designs to achieve different delay times. The ignition delay devices can have different lengths and be filled with the same timing composition mixture, or different timing composition mixtures can be used, having the same charge length. The ignition delay devices are also designed to have different effects. The end of the safety element 3 which will initiate pressure is equipped with a gas charge 9—that is, with a pyrotechnic system with low sparking but rapid burning—preferably an explosive propellant. The end of the ignition delay device which will ultimately fire the detonator 7—that is, the delay element 4—is exposed to a charge, which, specifically, ejects fire (a firing charge). The addition of a metal such as zirconium, titanium, magnesium, nickel is preferred in this case.

[0043] The lower ends of the ignition delay devices can each be equipped with throttle cups 14 (see FIG. 5). The throttle cup 14 serves to concentrate the jet of fire and to hold the charge. The throttle cup 14 consists, in a preferred embodiment, of a cone 16 with individual, evenly distributed bore holes 17. The throttle cup 14 has a diameter which is slightly smaller than the tube system 11. To fix the ignition delay device in place, instead of a throttle cup 14, it is possible to use just one threaded screw 15 into which are incorporated the pipe system or the ignition delay devices (see FIGS. 3a, 3b).

[0044] The opening mechanism and/or the one-way valves and/or the blocking elements 5 are a critical assembly. FIGS. 6a to 6c show different embodiments of the blocking elements 5. The safety element 3, which generates the pressure, is responsible for the opening of the blocking elements 5, functioning as valve-like structures. The blocking elements 5 are preferably a thin bursting disk or a one-way valve. In this case, it is required that the safety element 3 can open the blocking elements, but the delay element 4 is not able to open the blocking elements. The bursting disks and/or the one-way flaps of the blocking elements 5 are preferably constructed of a single piece which has three to eight segments 18. FIG. 6a shows a bursting disk and/or the one-way flap of the blocking device 5, with three segments 18. FIG. 6b has 4 segments, and FIG. 6c has 6 segments. FIG. 6d shows a section through the bursting disk and/or the one-way flap. The grooves 19 represent the predetermined breaking points; see FIG. 6d. In the direction of the structured surface, the bursting disk is only able, due to the resulting stress concentration, to oppose a significantly lower pressure (see FIG. 7). FIG. 7a shows the stress distribution when the pressure comes from the side on which predetermined breaking points 19 are arranged. FIG. 7b shows the stress distribution when the pressure comes from the opposite side, on which there are no predetermined breaking points 19.

[0045] In another case, the blocking element 5 can also be constructed as a two-part flap valve 20 (FIGS. 8a to 8d). This flap valve 20 has two superposed disks made of a metal. The flap mechanism only functions in one direction, due to a retaining arm 22. The effect in this case is the same as that of the bursting disk; however, a considerably smaller amount of force is needed to open this type of valve. The flap mechanism can be realized with a single-part or multi-part flap. FIG. 8a shows a double-leaf flap valve 20 with two flaps 21. FIGS. 8b and 8c show two disks of a flap valve 20 according to the invention; these are superimposed as shown in FIG. 8d. The different ignition delay devices, in connection with the opening mechanism, enable the realization of a detonator system which satisfies safety standards. If a delay system is not working properly, detonation does not occur.

Further Development, Detonator Safety

[0046] Another level of safety can be realized by the detonator 7 remaining in the original position remote from the ignition booster 8. When the opening mechanism—for example, the one-way valve 5—is activated, the residual pressure fixes the detonator 7 to the ignition booster 8 with a closure, thereby moving it into the ignition position. The closure should preferably be designed as a snap closure. Bayonet closures and frictional fasteners can also be contemplated.

[0047] FIG. 9a shows the detonator in its safety position—i.e., the unarmed starting position. The detonator 7 is arranged spaced apart from the ignition booster 8. FIG. 9b shows the detonator in its ignition position. The gas generated by the safety element 3 has opened the bursting disk 23, and has pushed the detonator 7 from its safety position into the firing position. In the safety position, the safety shutter 24 covers the parallel ignition delay device. If the safety pin 25 is pulled due to the triggering of the firing pin, the safety shutter 24 biased by the spring 26 can shoot up, thereby making possible the ignition of both ignition delay devices. The safety on the detonator is implemented by a simple click system, for example. When the bursting disk 23 opens, the detonator 7 is also pushed by the pressure into the ignition position—i.e. the armed position. The detonator 7 need only be modified slightly for this purpose.

[0048] FIG. 10a shows a safeguard in the case of an unintended ignition of the ignition element. The ignition element 1 is positioned in a cup 33 which is only fixed in the detonator and/or in the capsule holder 31 via a lacquer. Therefore, in the safety position, the ignition element 1 is only secured with a lacquer, which is also called a ring joint lacquer 32. The cup 33 is not fixed in the capsule holder 31 with a press fit. As a result, a jacket blowout occurs if the ignition element 1 is ignited in the safety position. The ignition delay devices 3, 4 are therefore not ignited.

[0049] FIG. 10b shows the detonator according to FIG. 10a, in the ignition position. The pressure initiated by the safety element 3 has opened the bursting disks and/or blocking elements 5, and brought the detonator 7 into the firing position in which it rests against the ignition booster 8.