EP0411996A1 - Priming device for the pyrotechnic chain of subprojectiles - Google Patents

Abstract

The technical sector of the invention is that of priming devices for the pyrotechnic chain of cargo submunitions. <??>The priming device (5) for a pyrotechnic chain of cargo submunitions, comprising an explosive charge (4) contained in a casing (47), comprises according to the invention:   a slide (8) carrying a primer (9) and moveable in a transverse groove (48) of a body (7) from a safety position, in which the primer (9) is not aligned with the sequence of the pyrotechnic chain, into a primed position, in which alignment is obtained,   a striker (16) moveable in a longitudinal bore (49) and striking the primer (9) upon the impact of the submunition   at least one means for blocking the slide in its safety position, and is characterised in that it possesses neutralising means comprising an obstacle which, actuated by drive means, is interposed in the path of the slide (8) in the event that the latter has not assumed its primed position after the submunition has fallen onto the ground, so as to prevent the latter from subsequently changing to its primed position. <??>The invention is used for the production of ammunition.

Description

The field of the present invention is that of priming devices for submunitions of cargo shells, in particular for anti-personnel and anti-vehicle grenades dropped in large numbers above a target, according to the so-called technique. of "saturation". A cargo shell is a shell whose usual explosive charge has been replaced by a large number of submunitions or sub-projectiles.

In most cases, submunitions are grenades constituted by a cylindrical fragmentation body having an anti-personnel effect by projection of splinters, and closed at one end by a coating of hollow charge allowing aggression by the roof light or weakly armored vehicles. The other end of the body supports the initiating device responsible for initiating the explosive charge contained in the body.

Conventionally, these grenades are stacked on several columns inside the cargo shell, the priming device turned towards the base occupies the space left free by the coating of the hollow charge of the neighboring grenade, or is housed in a shape provided for this purpose in the base of the cargo shell.

The grenades are then ejected and dispersed on the trajectory of the shell during a phase known as stripping, with a speed of rotation around their axis which is close to the speed that the shell had at the time of stripping.

The main technical function of the initiating device is to ignite as safely as possible the initiation of the main charge of the submunition at the time of its impact, after a normal fire on the one hand, and prohibit this ignition in the event of simple impact or manipulation on the other hand.

It can also include a device capable of neutralizing, that is to say preventing any ignition following a manipulation when after a normal launching the ignition has not occurred.

The constraints to be respected for the solution of the technical problem defined above are the following:
-There is a constraint of form and dimensions. This constraint comes from the need to house the priming device in the hollow charge cone of the next submunition as explained above,
-There is then a mass constraint, the priming device located at the rear of the submunition must be as light as possible so that the center of gravity of the submunition is located as forward as possible , which promotes stability on the trajectory,
-There is finally a constraint linked to the firing conditions of the cargo shell, essentially by the need to resist the very strong acceleration received by this shell during its interior ballistics phase.

The patents US4488488, WO8603828, EP0256320, US4612858 and FR2606136 describe different solutions for priming devices of this kind. Conventionally, the initiation systems described in these patents include ignitions constituted by a primer which a striker strikes upon impact under the effect of its own inertia.

The firing safety can be supplemented by a self-destruction system ignited independently of the main firing and which causes the self-destruction of the submunition by firing the main charge after a certain delay .

The prohibition on firing in the event of impact or manipulation is ensured by latches which are only lifted following the rapid rotation of the submunition. The closest embodiment of the invention consists of the third version of the initiation device described in patent US4612858.

Conventionally, this priming device comprises a primer placed in a sliding drawer, which a striker strikes at the moment of impact, moved by its own inertia. The safety of firing is supplemented by self-destruction, the firing of which is caused by the rotation of the sub-projectile.

The prohibition of operation during simple manipulations or shocks stems from the fact that in the storage position the drawer is in a position such that the primer which it carries is not in alignment with the rest of the pyrotechnic chain and that the drawer is held in this position by the striker as long as the latter is not in the armed position.

This same spring ensures the neutralization of the priming system by bringing the drawer in a misaligned and locked position in the event of insufficient rotation speed or no percussion after impact.

The self-destruction system comprises a primer integral with the drawer and coming under the effect of centrifugal force to strike a striker integral with the body of the priming device. This primer in turn initiates a retarding composition placed in a groove formed on a face of a disc interposed between the initiation system and the main charge, and having in the axis of the striker a priming relay which can be initiated, either by the main primer or by the retarding composition.

A vent, practiced laterally in the housing of the concurrent primer and coming in relation to the retarding composition, allows its initiation.

This device has many drawbacks. It can firstly be observed that all of the operating safety features are lifted under the action of centrifugal force alone, which is penalizing from the safety point of view.

Concerning the self-destruction device, it can be noted that the method of loading the retarding composition is difficult to implement. It will be difficult to obtain a homogeneous composition, ensuring good regularity of combustion, and thereafter delays which are reproducible from one priming device to another.

It will also be difficult to vary these times, the combustion time being directly dependent on the length of the load, except to modify this length and therefore the disc, or to change composition.

Nor is there found in this device an interruption of the pyrotechnic chain between the priming relay and the retarding composition which is a sensitive element, which is a serious drawback from the safety point of view.

In the case of jamming of the primer holder drawer in an intermediate position, without the primer of the self-destruction device being initiated, the drawer will not be in the neutralization position, an unexpected initiation is then possible following manual manipulation of the grenade after falling on the ground.

Finally, this priming device is composed of a large number of parts, which makes it an expensive assembly. In particular, the body is a complex foundry piece generally made from a zinc alloy and it ensures both the housing of the different parts as well as the fixing and the maintenance of the priming device on the body of the sub- ammunition.

Compared to the embodiment described above, the present invention relates to a priming device having, by design and construction, increased safety, this with a reduced number of mechanical parts, while respecting the constraints associated with this kind of devices, which were explained above. Finally, it aims to produce a priming device comprising more reliable and possibly removable self-destruction means, and reliable neutralization means.

The pyrotechnic chain priming device for submunition of cargo shells comprising an explosive charge contained in an envelope according to the invention comprises:
-a drawer carrying a primer, movable in a transverse groove of a body from a safety position in which the primer is not aligned with the rest of the pyrotechnic chain to an armed position in which the alignment is realised,
-a movable striker in a longitudinal bore and striking the primer upon impact of the submunition,
at least one means for locking the drawer in its safety position,
it is characterized in that it comprises neutralization means comprising an obstacle which, actuated by motor means, comes to intervene on the path of the drawer in the case where the latter has not come to assume its armed position after the fall of the submunition on the ground so as to prevent any subsequent passage of the latter into its armed position.

This construction has the advantage of locking the drawer in a known position and preventing the priming of the main chain on the one hand and of a possible delay chain on the other hand.

In fact, in the system proposed by the prior art, the neutralization device requires a movement of the drawer bringing the latter into a neutralization position, movement which cannot take place if the drawer is blocked.

The device proposed by the invention by interposing a mechanical obstacle on the path of the drawer ensures such neutralization whatever the state of the springs actuating the drawer.

In a preferred embodiment, the neutralization means comprise a trigger pivotally mounted relative to the body and held by a spring, constituting the motor means, in a position such that one of its ends constituting the obstacle prevents any passage from the drawer to its armed position, the trigger being fixed capable of tilting against the action of the spring under the effect of an axial rotational movement of the submunition, its end then no longer prohibiting the movements of the drawer.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to avoid the storage of energy inside the device, in fact the spring is not kept in the banded position inside the device, it is only bandaged during the rotation of the submunition, which reduces the risk of degradation of the spring during the storage phases.

In a variant, the device according to the invention comprises a delay self-destruction means constituted by a primer, a delay cord, a priming relay and a striker mounted on the drawer.

Such a variant makes it possible to obtain an easy design delay since the cord is produced independently of the initiation device.

According to other characteristics:
-the primer is an igniter sensitive to percussion and the delay cord is connected to this igniter by a chimney,
-The self-destruct means comprises two support parts allowing it to snap onto the body, this embodiment makes it easier to mount the self-destruct means with delay on the body of the priming device, it also allows the use of cords of different length with the same mounting of the priming device,
-the end of the trigger comprises opposite the striker carried by the drawer a housing having a shape complementary to that of this striker so as to wedge the latter if it comes to enter the housing.
the first locking means of the drawer comprises three elements aligned along a fictitious axis YY ′ parallel to the longitudinal axis XX ′ of the submunition, these elements being a counterweight bearing in a housing of the body to block the drawer, a spring guided on one side on a weak distance by a pin fixed to the body and adjusted on the other side in a bore of the counterweight, and a recess arranged in the body all around the axis YY ′.
-it comprises a second locking means of the drawer which is constituted by a flange integral with the striker and on which bears a housing arranged on the drawer, and in that the aerodynamic forces exerted on a ribbon integral with the striker cause the translation of the latter and the release of the drawer, and in that when the drawer is immobilized in its safety position by the first locking means, the collar comes to be housed in a groove carried by the drawer, groove preventing any translation of the striker in its longitudinal bore.
-the striker has an axial bore closed by a washer, in which slides a rod, comprising at one of its ends a shoulder cooperating with the washer to extract the striker, the tensile movement being produced by the ribbon fixed to the free end of the stem.
an external metal mask whose internal shape matches the external shape of the body, the metal mask being fixed by crimping on a groove carried by the envelope of the load, and the body being kept in contact with the mask by a disk of closure itself coming to bear on the load.

• La Figure 1 est une vue en coupe d'un obus cargo.
• La Figure 2 représente une coupe longitudinale partielle de deux sous-munitions empilées montrant le système d'amorçage selon l'invention.
• La Figure 3 représente une coupe transversale d'un premier mode de réalisation du dispositif, coupe réalisée selon le plan de la figure 2.
• La Figure 4 représente une coupe de la sécurité d'accélération réalisée selon le plan EE de la figure 3.
• La Figure 5 représente une coupe du système d'allumage selon le plan BB de la figure 2.
• La Figure 6 est une coupe de la figure 3 suivant le plan CC.
• La Figure 7 représente la même coupe que la figure 6, le percuteur étant en position armée.
• La Figure 8 représente en coupe axiale un deuxième mode de réalisation du dispositif, coupe réalisée selon le plan DD de la figure 10.
• La Figure 9 est une demi coupe du dispositif selon le plan FF de la figure 10 montrant la sécurité d'accélération.
• La Figure 10 est une coupe transversale suivant le plan GG de la figure 12.
• La Figure 11 est une coupe suivant les plans brisés HH de la figure 12.
• La Figure 12 est une coupe axiale suivant le plan II de la figure 11.

Other characteristics and advantages will appear on reading the following description of embodiments given without limitation with reference to the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a sectional view of a cargo shell.
• Figure 2 shows a partial longitudinal section of two stacked submunitions showing the priming system according to the invention.
• FIG. 3 represents a cross section of a first embodiment of the device, a section made along the plane of FIG. 2.
• FIG. 4 represents a section of the acceleration safety produced according to the plane EE of FIG. 3.
• FIG. 5 represents a section of the ignition system according to the plane BB of FIG. 2.
• Figure 6 is a section of Figure 3 along the plane CC.
• Figure 7 shows the same section as Figure 6, the striker being in the armed position.
• FIG. 8 shows in axial section a second embodiment of the device, section made along the plane DD of FIG. 10.
• Figure 9 is a half section of the device along the plane FF of Figure 10 showing the acceleration safety.
• Figure 10 is a cross section along the plane GG of Figure 12.
• Figure 11 is a section along the broken planes HH of Figure 12.
• Figure 12 is an axial section along plane II of Figure 11.

The priming system for submunitions of cargo shells 1 according to the invention is intended as explained above to be mounted on submunitions 2, housed in large numbers in this shell. Each submunition is designed so that the priming device for one is housed in the space left free inside the coating of the hollow charge of the next submunition. The detail of this housing is shown in Figure 1 in which we see the coating 3 of hollow charge of a submunition comprising an explosive charge 4, coating inside which is housed the initiating device 5 of the neighboring submunition. This figure is intended to illustrate the conventional arrangement of submunitions 2 in the shell, the priming system being oriented towards the base 6 of the shell.

As shown in Figure 2, the initiating device according to the invention, shown in the safety position, consists of a body 7, disposed inside a metal mask 44 made of stamped sheet metal and the internal profile follows the external profile of the body 7.

The mask 44 thus covers the body 7 which supports all of the priming means, the body being kept in contact with the mask by a closing disc 13 which itself comes to bear on the explosive charge 4.

The attachment of the mask carrying the initiation device to the explosive charge is made by annular crimping 45 onto the metal casing 47 of the charge (see FIG. 7), but any other mode of connection would be possible. The mask constitutes a reinforcement of the body and allows it to be dimensioned allowing the use of plastics. Indeed, the forces transmitted during movements of the submunitions by the parts constituting the priming device according to the invention will be absorbed by the mask, the rigidity of which is sufficient. This avoids having to use a complex profile foundry to produce the initiation device.

Inside the body 7 is arranged a transverse groove 48 inside which is slidably mounted a drawer 8, carrying a primer 9. The drawer is pushed into its groove by a compression spring 10 bearing on one side on one end 11 of a recess in the drawer and on the other on a lug 12 of the closing disc 13 of the body 7.

The body also has a longitudinal bore 49 inside which a striker 16 is slidably mounted.

The latter has an axial bore 50 inside which is disposed a sliding rod 32, the latter carries a shoulder 35 intended to abut on a washer 36 made integral with the striker 16 by crimping.

A textile tape 31 is linked to the telescopic rod 32 by means of a washer 33 held by a crimping 34.

The striker also carries a flange 15 which is received when the device is in the safety position in a groove 14 of the drawer 8, which thus immobilizes the striker in translation.

Figures 3 and 4 show a first blocking means constituted by a counterweight 18, bearing in a housing 29 of the body 7 and on an imprint 46 made on the drawer so as to block the latter (fig 3). The counterweight is held in position by a compression spring 19, adjusted on one side in a blind bore of the counterweight 18 and guided on the other side over a short length by a pin 20 secured to the body 7.

Conventionally, this lock is designed so as to operate only during sufficient accelerations and strokes of the counterweight (acceleration of the order of 900 g), this in order to protect against accidental unlockings consecutive to rough handling or falls during storage or handling periods.

It will be noted that the counterweight 18, the spring 19 and the pin 20 are aligned along an axis YY ′ parallel to the longitudinal axis XX ′ of the submunition and to the acceleration vector of the projectile at the start of the shot. A recess 30 is arranged in the body 7 all around the axis YY '(see Figure 5), the function of this recess will be explained below.

Thus before firing the cargo shell, any translation of the drawer is prohibited by the locking means.

When the latter is erased and the sub-projectiles are no longer in the cargo shell (in fact in the latter case the drawer cannot pass into the armed position due to its pressing on the coating of the hollow charge of the sub- neighboring ammunition), a limited translation of the drawer is possible until the housing 17 arranged in the drawer is pressed on the flange 15 which thus constitutes a second means of blocking the drawer.

The drawer is then still immobilized in a safety position but the flange 15 is released from the groove 14, allowing translation of the striker.

The drawer 8 carries a pin 38 (Figure 3) pushed by a spring 39, intended to engage in a hole 40 of the body 7 so as to lock the drawer in the armed position.

In FIGS. 3, 5 and 6 there is a representation of a self-destruction device comprising a striker 24 integral with the drawer 8, and a retarder assembly consisting of a primer 21 and a priming relay 22 , set on a flexible delay cord 23.

The priming device according to the invention also comprises a neutralization means comprising a centrifugal trigger 25 held in the safety position shown in FIG. 3 by a torsion spring 26 and accommodating its free end 51 between the striker 24 and the primer 21 of the delay system, thus creating an obstacle preventing any passage of the drawer into its armed position. The trigger carries at its free end 51 opposite the striker 24 a housing 43 whose function will be explained below.

The retarder assembly is fixed to the outside of the body 7 by support pieces 27 and 28 made integral with the body 8 by means of a snap not shown (see Figures 3, 5 and 6).

The operation of the device is as follows:

At the start of the blow, the shell undergoes an acceleration and a rotation. By inertia, the counterweight 18 then compresses the spring 19 along the axis YY ′ and is found in the recess 30. The rotation of the projectile generating a centrifugal force, the counterweight 18 is offset and wedged across the recess 30.

This offset is favored by the small diameter of the spring 19 and by the fact that the very short pin 20 offers practically no guidance. The drawer 8 is no longer linked to the body by the counterweight 18 and can then slide slightly, within the limit permitted by the housing 17 of the striker 16 and by the support of the drawer on the coating of the neighboring sub-projectile.

The counterweight 18 cannot, as a result of its offset, return to its place even after the acceleration phase has ended.

Note that the recess 30 being free over 360 ° relative to the axis YY ′ (see Figure 5), the counterweight 18 will be trapped regardless of the orientation of the submunition in the shell, no indexing submunition / shell is therefore no longer necessary during assembly, which simplifies the integration of submunitions into the cargo shell.

During the unloading, the submunitions are ejected out of the shell with a speed of rotation around their axis substantially equal to that of the shell at the time of the unloading.

The centrifugal force causes the separation of the trigger 25, as well as the translation of the drawer 8 pushed by the spring 10, the flange 15 is then released from the groove 14, and the striker free to translate.

It should be noted that the extraction of the striker 16 is not instantaneous, but only takes place once the ribbon 31 has been deployed and the rod 32 has come out of its housing (FIG. 7). This arming delay makes it possible to avoid during unloading that two submunitions by colliding do not work unexpectedly.

The ribbon 31 (fig 7) is deployed and pulls the telescopic rod 32 which abuts on the washer 36, then extracts the striker 16 from its housing 17.

The drawer then passes into the armed position and at the same time, the striker 24 initiates the self-destruction device, the drawer is locked by the pin 38 engaged in the hole 40.

The positioning of the primer 9 is ensured by the lug 12 on which the end 37 of the spring housing 10 comes into abutment.

During the descent:
- The attitude of the submunition is controlled by the tape 31, the effectiveness of which is reinforced by the telescopic rod 32 which allows the point of application of the braking force generated by the tape 31 to be moved back and the anti-tip torque.
- The rotation of the submunition is braked by an aerodynamic device of the known type, not shown (for example fins attached to the body of the submunition). The speed of rotation decreases and with it the centrifugal force holding the trigger.

On impact, the submunition hits the target on the side of the hollow charge and at the same time undergoes a very strong deceleration. By inertia the striker 16 strikes and initiates the primer 9 and consequently the hollow charge 4.

If, however, the submunition sees its fall braked gradually, for example by branches holding the ribbon 31, the initiation of the charge is nevertheless ensured by the self-destruction device.

The primer 21 has ignited the delay cord 23 which will initiate the primer 9 by means of the priming relay 22 and through two recesses 41 and 42 made respectively in the drawer 8 and the body 7 (FIG 7).

It will be noted that the self-destruction sequence begins at the time of the passage of the priming device in the armed position and continues thereafter, whatever the environmental conditions encountered by the submunition during its fall, which constitutes a guarantee of reliability.

It will also be noted that this self-destruction can only initiate the main charge if the drawer 8 is in the armed position, the recess 41 then being opposite the recess 42.

Otherwise, the primer 9 being misaligned, the operation of the relay 22 will have no consequences on the main load, which is advantageous from the safety point of view.

In addition, if for any reason the drawer 8 could not slide and therefore the arming to be carried out, the submunition would be on the ground, all means of blockage out of service and anyone handling it could then loosen the drawer 8 and cause the percussion of the delay.

Such a drawback is avoided thanks to the neutralization means proposed by the invention. In fact when the rotation of the sub-projectile is finished, the trigger 25 pushed by its spring 26 takes the safety position shown in Figure 3. In this case it limits the movements of the drawer 8 by preventing it from coming into the armed position and initiating the delay.

It is possible to give the housing 43 and the trigger 25 a shape such that the return of the latter to the safety position is possible whatever the intermediate position between the storage position and the armed position adopted by the primer holder drawer.

The shape of the housing 43 is complementary to that of the striker 24 so as to produce, in the event of displacement of the drawer bringing this striker inside the housing 43, an irreversible jamming of these elements, which increases the safety of the device during subsequent manipulations.

Figures 8 to 12 show a second embodiment of the ignition device according to the invention, in which elements similar to those described above have the same reference numerals.

In this particular embodiment, the body 7 is a foundry of a zinc alloy (Zamac) produced for example by the lost wax process.

As before, it comprises a drawer 8 disposed in a transverse groove 48 of the body 7, and held by a closing disc 13 made integral with the body 7 by a not shown fixing means (screws or rivets).

The drawer is pushed by the spring 10 which bears on one side on a lug 12 of the disc 13.

In this particular case and for mounting convenience, the spring 10 is disposed on a rod 52 which makes it possible to compress it to place it in its housing, a split washer 53 is introduced between the spring 10 and the head of the rod 52 by an opening 54 of the disc 13. This washer thus secures the rod 52 and the drawer 8.

The striker 16 is slidably mounted in the longitudinal bore 49, in this variant it does not have a telescopic rod, but carries the textile tape 31 fixed by means of a washer 33 held by a crimping 34.

The flange 15 of the striker 16 is housed in the groove 14 of the drawer 8 which thus immobilizes the striker in translation.

A steel strapping 55 receives the priming system and is made integral with it by transverse connecting means not shown (screws or rivets), it makes it possible to make the priming system integral with the body of the load (not shown here) at by means of an annular crimp similar to the crimp 45 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The rotating braking fins 56 are folded over the hoop 55 and welded thereto by one of their ends.

In this particular embodiment, the locking of the drawer in the armed position is ensured by a plunger 57 slidably mounted in a housing 58 of the body 7 and pushed by a spring.

When the drawer is in the armed position, the lug 12 abuts on the end 37 of the spring housing 10, the plunger coming into the housing 17.

This plunger is held by a cover 59 made of plastic material which is supported on a flat face of the body 7 and made integral with the latter by rivets (not shown).

The cover 59 also carries the pin 20 which guides the spring 19 of the counterweight 18 (see FIG. 9), this counterweight constitutes the first means of blocking the drawer 8 as has already been described for the first embodiment.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show the self-destruction device which comprises as before a striker 24 secured to the drawer 8, and a retarder assembly consisting of a primer 21, a priming relay 22 and a flexible delay cord 23 (see Figures 11 and 12).

In this particular embodiment, the primer is an percussion sensitive igniter which is not attached to the delay cord but which is fixed on the body 7 opposite the striker 24. A chimney 60, arranged in the body 7, connects the igniter to the delay cord 23.

Such an arrangement makes it possible to use a cord of reduced length and having only a single curvature, which facilitates its positioning on the body 7 by simple adjustment inside the parallel transverse bores 61 and 62, and guarantees reliability. of transmission.

The flames produced by the initiation of the igniter will be guided by the chimney 60 and will initiate the delay cord 23 by means of an ignition composition 63 sensitive to heat or to the flame (for example a known mixture of Zirconium and Barium chromate).

The priming relay 22 will initiate the primer 9 through the recesses 41 (on the drawer 8) and 42 (on the body 7), and this only if the drawer 8 is in the armed position (FIG. 11).

The neutralization means (Figure 10) is as previously constituted by the centrifugal trigger 25 held in the safety position by the torsion spring 26, in this particular embodiment the trigger has at its end a housing, but it does not have a shape complementary to that of the striker 24 and does not make it possible to wedge the latter.

Claims (10)

1-Starting device (5) for pyrotechnic chain for submunition of cargo shells comprising an explosive charge (4) contained in an envelope (47), of the type comprising:
a drawer (8) carrying a primer (9), movable in a transverse groove (48) of a body (7) from a safety position in which the primer (9) is not aligned with the continuation of the pyrotechnic chain in an armed position in which alignment is carried out,
a striker (16) movable in a longitudinal bore (49) and striking the primer (9) during the impact of the submunition,
at least one means for locking the drawer in its safety position,
characterized in that it comprises neutralization means comprising an obstacle which, actuated by motor means, comes to intervene on the path of the drawer (8) in the event that the latter has not come to assume its armed position after the fall of the submunition on the ground so as to prevent any subsequent passage of the latter into its armed position. 2-Priming device according to claim 1, characterized in that the neutralization means comprise a trigger (25) pivotally mounted relative to the body (7) and held by a spring (26), constituting the driving means, in a position such that one of its ends (51) constituting the obstacle prevents any passage of the drawer to its armed position, the trigger being fixed capable of tilting against the action of the spring (26) under the effect of a movement of axial rotation of the submunition, its end (51) then no longer prohibiting the movements of the drawer (8). 3-Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises a delay self-destruction means consisting of a primer (21), a delay cord (23), a priming relay (22) and a striker (24 ) mounted on the drawer (8). 4-Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the primer (21) is an igniter sensitive to percussion and in that the delay cord is connected to this igniter by a chimney (60). 5-Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the self-destruction means comprises two support parts (27, 28) allowing its snap-fastening on the body (7). 6-Device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the end (51) of the trigger (25) comprises opposite the striker (24) carried by the drawer a housing (43) having a shape complementary to that of this striker (24) so as to wedge the latter if it comes to enter the housing (43). 7-Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first locking means of the drawer comprises three elements aligned along a fictitious axis YY ′ parallel to the longitudinal axis XX ′ of the submunition, these elements being a counterweight (18) supported in a housing (29) of the body (7) to block the drawer (8), a spring (19) guided on one side for a short distance by a pin (20) fixed to the body and adjusted on the other side in a bore of the counterweight (18), and a recess (30) arranged in the body (7) all around the axis YY ′. 8-Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises a second means for locking the drawer, this second means being constituted by a flange (15) integral with the striker (16) and which bears on a housing (17) arranged on the drawer (8), and in that the aerodynamic forces exerted on a strip (31) integral with the striker (16) cause the translation of the latter and the release of the drawer (8), and in that when the drawer is immobilized in its safety position by the first locking means, the flange (15) is housed in a groove (14) carried by the drawer, groove preventing any translation of the striker in its longitudinal bore ( 49). 9-Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the striker (16) has an axial bore (50) closed by a washer (36), in which slides a rod (32), having at one of its ends a shoulder (35) cooperating with the washer (36) to extract the striker (16), the pulling movement being produced by the tape (31) fixed to the free end of the rod (32). 10-Priming device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it comprises an external metal mask (44) whose internal shape matches the external shape of the body (7), the metal mask being fixed by a crimp (45) on a groove carried by the casing (47) of the load (4), and the body being kept in contact with the mask by a closing disc (13) itself coming to bear on the load ( 4).

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