EP0906556B1 - Non-lethal projectile - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a non-lethal projectile, intended for be projected, in particular pulled from a tube in a longitudinal direction predetermined, and to diffuse a pressurized fluid in a controlled manner, in particular by the impact on a target in said direction, the projectile comprising for this purpose a longitudinal body having a nose towards front and rear tail, a perforable container for fluid under pressure, disposed in said body between the nose and the tail of the latter, a longitudinal striker for perforating said container, juxtaposed longitudinally thereto and carried by a transverse wall integral with the body, means for authorizing or provoking a mutual longitudinal reconciliation of the container and the striker and the perforation of the container by the latter in a controlled manner, in particular by the impact on a target in this direction, and means of distribution of the fluid, to allow the fluid to exit the body, in a distributed manner transversely, after perforation of the container by the striker.

We will hear here by "tube" as well a weapon tube, housing directly the projectile until its shooting, that a tubular case, for example a shell, enveloping at least locally the projectile inside the weapon barrel and remaining therein when the projectile is fired.

Such a projectile, assigned to the diffusion of a pressurized fluid chosen from a group comprising incapacitating fluids and marking, is described in European patent application No. 96400608.4, filed on March 22, 1996 by the Applicant, in one embodiment in which the means for distributing the fluid consist of a plurality of transverse orifices arranged in a part of the body housing the container, close to the transverse wall carrying the striker. This known projectile is intended to be fired in a longitudinal direction determined from a gun barrel, and to release the container pressurized fluid upon impact on a target in this sense, under the effect of an inertial percussion during this impact.

This solution is not entirely satisfactory to the extent where the impact energy can be sufficient to cause not only percussion, that is to say the perforation of the container by the striker, but also a crushing of the container on the transverse wall carrying the striker, with a crimping effect of the container to inside the body and / or on the striker, in the immediate vicinity of the the aforementioned transverse wall, that is to say in the area in which locate the holes.

This results in at least partial blockage of the latter, affecting the effectiveness of the projectile. Indeed, it is important that not only the fluid so, but also that this exit takes place in an extremely short time, that is to say before the projectile falls to the ground after hitting its target.

Also known, by Figure 7 of British Patent No. 1,354,307, a projectile comprising, inside a body, a container which, upon impact of the projectile on a target in a determined longitudinal direction, breaks on a striker so that its contents escape through arranged side vents in the wall of the projectile body, around the container, i.e. on the same side that this of a wall carrying the striker as in the case of the projectile described in the aforementioned European patent application.

However, the container described in British Patent No. 1,354,307 is not not punctured, but breaks into many pieces when it hits the striker, which required on the one hand to provide a cushion behind this container, to protect it during the firing of the projectile in particular, and on the other hand a wire mesh to inside the vents to prevent pieces of the container from escaping at the same time as the content, which could injure people the surrounding.

On the other hand, the present invention is concerned with projectiles whose container is perforable and opens by perforation using the striker, as shown in aforementioned European patent application.

We also know, from US Patent No. 1,671,364, a projectile comprising a tube permanently immersed inside a container a fluid to be expelled and communicating with channels arranged in a wall rigid projectile.

The capacity described in this document is no more than a perforable container than the container described in the aforementioned British patent, and this capacity does not does not contain a pressurized fluid, the release of which would be effected by perforation of such a container. Indeed, this release is effected by the telescoping effect of the capacity and release of plugs initially closing the T-shaped end of the tube which is opposite to the rigid wall in which the outlet channels are arranged.

Therefore, no more than British Patent No. 1,354,307, this patent American No. 1 671 364 does not relate to projectiles carrying out a container perforable by the effect of a striker, i.e. of the type described in the application for European patent cited above. In particular, none of these documents teaches a means of remedying the aforementioned drawback of the projectile described in this application European patent.

The object of the present invention is to remedy this drawback projectiles described in European patent application No. 96400608.4 and, for this purpose, it proposes a projectile of the type indicated in the preamble, characterized in that the means for distributing the fluid comprise a blind longitudinal passage through the striker, open towards the container and closed inside said wall, and a plurality of channels transverse, arranged in said wall, radiating from said passage and opening to the outside of the body.

A skilled person will easily understand that a possible crushing of the container on the transverse wall carrying the striker has no effect, under these conditions, on the outlet of the pressurized fluid, if although it is ensured that the projectile according to the invention releases the fluid that it contains, and this in a very short time after impact on its target if one chooses to control the percussion by inertia, during this impact.

Naturally, such an embodiment of the means of distribution of the fluid accommodates however of any mode of percussion the container, i.e. the use of any phenomenon specific to cause mutual longitudinal reconciliation of the container and the striker, in conditions suitable for causing perforation of the container by the striker, in particular during impact on a target and given the deliberately limited impact energy in order to preserve the non-lethal nature of the projectile.

The percussion can implement a longitudinal displacement of the striker with respect to the transverse wall which carries it but, preferably, the striker is integral with it. So, depending on the case, the percussion may result from a longitudinal crushing of the body, to which case it is expected that the means to authorize or cause a mutual longitudinal reconciliation of the container and the striker and the container perforation by it have an area longitudinally compressible from the body, longitudinally intermediate between the container and said transverse wall, or else this crushing is completed or replaced by a sliding of the container, by inertia, towards the striker inside the body, in which case provision is made that the means to authorize or cause a merger mutual longitudinal of the container and the striker and the perforation of the container by it include a mounting of the container to longitudinal sliding relative to the body, the striker and said wall being placed in front of the container.

These two conceptions of the means to authorize or provoke a mutual longitudinal reconciliation of the container and the striker and the container perforation by it can be combined, similarly that other means can be chosen, such as means pyrotechnics initiated by the impact or, with delay, by the firing of the projectile, these examples being in no way limiting. Percussion by longitudinal crushing of the body is associated with a command of the percussion by the inertia of the body itself upon impact on a target in a determined longitudinal direction while the percussion by sliding from container to striker is compatible with any percussion control mode, in particular with a control by the inertia of the container upon impact on a target in one direction determined longitudinal, or by pyrotechnic or mechanical-pyrotechnic means generally acting without impact the energy of percussion.

A skilled person will easily understand that applications of the present invention are not limited to the case of projectiles intended to be fired from a tube in one direction determined longitudinal and to release the fluid under pressure from the container during an impact on a target in this sense, and which can be achieved in accordance with the present invention projectiles intended to be projected by another means, including being launched by hand as this is the case with hand grenades. In such a case, the percussion highlights preferably installs the sliding container longitudinal to the body, towards the striker, but it is preferably controlled by means other than inertial, in particular by pyrotechnic or mechanical-pyrotechnic means, known in themselves, in particular operated voluntarily by a user before launching and causing the container to slide towards the striker and its perforation by it under the effect of a release gaseous, generally delayed compared to actuation aforementioned volunteer. The notions of longitudinality, of longitudinal sense determined, and the concepts derived from it such as the concepts of transversality, front and rear, nose and tail of the projectile are then understood by reference to the direction of movement of the container towards the striker inside the body.

When the percussion involves mounting the container to longitudinal sliding relative to the body and in the case of a projectile intended to be fired from a weapon tube, provision is made advantageously that the projectile according to the invention comprises means locking device to immobilize the container relative to the body that the projectile is placed inside the tube, and to release the container automatically with regard to longitudinal sliding relative to the body at the exit of the projectile out of the tube.

According to a particularly simple embodiment, while being effective, of these locking means, the body is made in the form of a wall of an elastically deformable material between the nose and the tail, has a smooth inner surface for guiding the container to the longitudinal sliding in the body and a smooth outer face of guiding the projectile to longitudinal sliding in the tube, said face exterior has a localized protrusion capable of retracting by forming a projection on said inner face when the projectile is engaged in the tube and protruding on the outer face in retracting the projection from the inner face when the projectile is out of the tube, and the container integrally has a localized depression, transversely opposite said protuberance when the container is juxtaposed with the striker.

Said localized depression of the container can advantageously have the shape of a transverse annular groove, which allows protruding from the wall of the body in the form of a bead transverse, continuously connected to this wall. We can however also provide that the projectile has at least one tab elastically flexible released from said wall, having one end free integral with it and offset with respect to said protuberance and a free end integrally carrying said protuberance; then, a plurality of such tabs, advantageously oriented longitudinally, is preferably provided evenly around of the body wall.

It will be observed that, whatever its embodiment, the the aforementioned protuberance not only ensures the containment of the container to against a sliding, inside the body, which can lead to accidental percussion, but also helps to retain the projectile inside the tube insofar as it is elastically stressed towards the outside of the body, it comes to rest against the tube inside of it. In the particular case where this protuberance has the form a transverse bead, connected without discontinuity to the wall of the body, this protuberance also provides a seal between the projectile and the tube, which makes it possible to use a gas pressure for firing the projectile developed inside the tube, behind the projectile, for example the pressure of a gas such as compressed air introduced into the tube or the combustion gas pressure of a pyrotechnic charge.

In a manner generally known in the field of projectiles, the projectile according to the invention, when it is intended to be fired from a weapon barrel, in a determined longitudinal direction, comprises advantageously stabilization fins integral with the body at the tail of it, likely to occupy a retracted position in which they are retained under elastic stress by the tube when the projectile is engaged in it and deploy by elasticity when the projectile came out of the tube.

These fins are advantageously made of a material elastically deformable and having an end secured to the body and a free end tending by elasticity to shift transversely outwardly relative to the integral end of the body, which is particularly simple, economical and safe, and can be advantageously shaped so as to produce a hissing sound during flight of the projectile, which indicates the shooting and announces the imminence of a impact.

In addition, the projectile according to the invention may include all provisions known in itself, such as a warhead attached to its nose and made of elastically compressible material, for example of shore A hardness of between 10 and 30 approximately, preferably between 12 and 15, and for example made of silicone.

• La figure 1 montre une vue d'un projectile selon l'invention, sorti du tube mais avant l'impact sur une cible, pour moitié en élévation et pour moitié en coupe par un demi-plan défini par un axe longitudinal de ce projectile.
• La figure 2 montre, à plus grande échelle, un détail repéré en II à la figure 1.
• La figure 3 montre ce même détail alors que le projectile est encore engagé dans le tube.
• La figure 4 montre, en une vue analogue à celle de la figure 1, le projectile après impact sur sa cible, selon deux modes de comportement du projectile lors de l'impact, illustrés respectivement dans l'une et l'autre moitiés de cette figure.
• Les figures 5 à 8 illustrent, en des vues correspondant respectivement à celles des figures 1 à 4, une variante de réalisation du projectile, la figure 6 illustrant un détail repéré en VI à la figure 5.
• Les figures 9 et 10 illustrent, en des vues en coupe analogues à celles des figures 1, 4, 5, 8, deux variantes préférées de réalisation d'une pièce groupant le percuteur et la paroi transversale qui le porte.
• Les figures 11 et 12 montrent ces deux variantes en perspective, respectivement.
• Les figures 13 et 14 illustrent, en des vues correspondant à celles des figures 4 et 8 mais localisées autour du percuteur et de la paroi transversale qui le porte, la coopération du conteneur, après sa perforation elle-même consécutive à l'impact du projectile sur sa cible, avec ces deux variantes, respectivement.

Other characteristics and advantages of a projectile according to the invention will emerge from the description below, relating to a nonlimiting exemplary embodiment, as well as from the appended drawings which form an integral part of this description.

• Figure 1 shows a view of a projectile according to the invention, out of the tube but before impact on a target, half in elevation and half in section by a half-plane defined by a longitudinal axis of this projectile.
• FIG. 2 shows, on a larger scale, a detail identified in II in FIG. 1.
• Figure 3 shows this same detail while the projectile is still engaged in the tube.
• FIG. 4 shows, in a view similar to that of FIG. 1, the projectile after impact on its target, according to two modes of behavior of the projectile during impact, illustrated respectively in one and the other halves of this figure.
• FIGS. 5 to 8 illustrate, in views corresponding respectively to those of FIGS. 1 to 4, an alternative embodiment of the projectile, FIG. 6 illustrating a detail marked in VI in FIG. 5.
• Figures 9 and 10 illustrate, in sectional views similar to those of Figures 1, 4, 5, 8, two preferred embodiments of a part grouping the striker and the transverse wall which carries it.
• Figures 11 and 12 show these two variants in perspective, respectively.
• Figures 13 and 14 illustrate, in views corresponding to those of Figures 4 and 8 but located around the striker and the transverse wall which carries it, the cooperation of the container, after its perforation itself following the impact of the projectile on its target, with these two variants, respectively.

The two embodiments of a projectile according to the invention which have been illustrated respectively in FIGS. 1 to 4 and in FIGS. 5 to 8 presenting great similarities, we will first describe their parts municipalities, indicated by the same reference numbers on all of these figures which will be referred to in the first place.

This projectile 1 has a common longitudinal axis 2, before its shooting, to a tube, constituted for example by a weapon tube 3, in which it is initially engaged and from which it leaves in a longitudinal direction 4, predetermined, when fired. Axis 2 will serve as a reference for the concepts of longitudinal and transverse while the firing direction 4 will serve as reference to the concepts of front and back.

• une paroi tubulaire 6, longitudinale, définie par des faces périphériques respectivement intérieure 7 et extérieure 8 cylindriques de révolution autour de l'axe 2 et lisses, à une exception près qui sera décrite ultérieurement, et par deux faces annulaires planes, transversales, de révolution autour de l'axe 2, à raison d'une face avant 9 et d'une face arrière 10, raccordant mutuellement les faces 7 et 8 respectivement en avant et en arrière du corps 5 ;
• un nez 11, définissant une extrémité avant du corps 5 et fixé à la paroi 6 par exemple par emboítement et collage dans une zone de sa face périphérique intérieure 7 jouxtant directement la face avant 9 et collage, le nez 11 présentant une forme générale de révolution autour de l'axe 2 à des exceptions près qui seront décrites ultérieurement ;
• une queue 12 définissant une extrémité arrière du corps 5 et fixée sur la paroi 6 par exemple par emboítement et collage dans une zone de sa face périphérique intérieure 7 jouxtant directement sa face arrière 10 et collage, cette queue 12 présentant une forme générale tubulaire, de révolution autour de l'axe 2.

The projectile 1 comprises a body 5 defined in the example illustrated by:

• a tubular wall 6, longitudinal, defined by respectively inner 7 and outer 8 cylindrical faces of revolution around the axis 2 and smooth, with one exception which will be described later, and by two annular planar, transverse faces of revolution around the axis 2, at the rate of a front face 9 and a rear face 10, mutually connecting the faces 7 and 8 respectively in front and behind the body 5;
• a nose 11, defining a front end of the body 5 and fixed to the wall 6 for example by fitting and bonding in a zone of its inner peripheral face 7 directly adjoining the front face 9 and bonding, the nose 11 having a general shape of revolution around axis 2 with exceptions which will be described later;
• a tail 12 defining a rear end of the body 5 and fixed to the wall 6 for example by fitting and bonding in a zone of its inner peripheral face 7 directly adjoining its rear face 10 and bonding, this tail 12 having a generally tubular shape, revolution around axis 2.

The tubular wall 6 is made of an elastic material flexible, such as a plastic material in which one can also line up 12.

The tail 12 has a wall 13 delimited by faces peripherals respectively external 14 and internal 15 frustoconical of revolution around axis 2 and narrowing towards the rear. Towards the front, each of these faces 14 and 15 is connected to a peripheral face respective cylindrical of revolution around axis 2, namely respectively an outer peripheral face 16 with a diameter identical to that of the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6 and a inner peripheral face 17 with a diameter smaller than that of the face inner peripheral 7 of the wall 6. Towards the front, the peripheral face outer 16 is connected to an annular shoulder 18, plan, of revolution around axis 2, turned forwards and placed in abutment, towards the front, against the rear face 10 of the wall 6. This shoulder 18 connects the outer peripheral face 16 to another peripheral face outer 19 of the tail 12, which outer peripheral face 19 is cylindrical of revolution around axis 2 with a diameter substantially identical to that of the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6 so to marry an area of this inner peripheral face 7 directly adjacent to the rear face 10 of the wall 6. The peripheral faces inner 17 and outer 19 of the tail 12 thus define, with respect at the wall 13, a tubular rim 20 for nesting inside the wall 6. Towards the front, inner 17 and outer peripheral faces 19 of the flange 20 are connected to each other by a shoulder 81 annular, plane, of revolution around axis 2, thus delimiting the rim 20 forward. The longitudinal dimension separating the shoulders 18 and 81 is much smaller than the dimension longitudinal of the wall 6 between its front 9 and rear 10 faces.

Towards the rear, the outer 14 and inner peripheral faces 15 of the wall 13 are connected to a respective peripheral face cylindrical of revolution around axis 2, namely respectively a outer peripheral face 22 and an inner peripheral face 21, mutually connected, towards the rear, by an annular shoulder, plane 23, of revolution around axis 2 and turned towards the rear, so as to define a tubular end piece 24.

This tubular endpiece 24 is used for integral attachment to the body 5, a tail unit 25 intended to cause a nutation movement of the projectile 1 around axis 2 after firing, to stabilize its trajectory.

• une embase plate 26 de fixation, laquelle est orientée transversalement à l'axe 2, axée sur celui-ci et présente d'une part un trou central 27 la traversant longitudinalement de part en part et délimité par une face périphérique intérieure 28 cylindrique de révolution autour de l'axe 2 avec un diamètre sensiblement identique à celui de la face périphérique intérieure 21 de l'embout 24, et d'autre part une périphérie extérieure 29, en forme de polygone régulier, et plus précisément à quatre côtés dans l'exemple illustré, avec un diamètre de cercle exinscrit inférieur à celui de la face périphérique extérieure 8 de la paroi 6, en référence à l'axe 2 ; le trou central 27 et la face périphérique intérieure 21 de l'embout 24, convenablement taraudée, reçoivent coaxialement, par l'arrière, un boulon 30 de serrage de l'embase 26, à plat, contre l'épaulement 23 de l'embout 24 afin d'assurer la solidarisation de l'empennage 25 avec le corps 5 ;
• autant d'ailettes élastiquement flexibles 31 que de côtés du polygone définis par la périphérie 29 de l'embase 26, à savoir quatre ailettes 31 dans l'exemple illustré, chacune de ces ailettes présentant une extrémité avant 82 solidaire de l'embase 26 le long d'un côté du polygone et une extrémité arrière libre 83 qui, par élasticité du matériau constituant l'empennage 25, tend à se décaler transversalement vers l'extérieur par rapport à l'extémité avant 82, c'est-à-dire à être plus éloignée de l'axe 2 que celle-ci, de telle sorte que l'empennage 25 présente une forme évasée vers l'arrière avec un diamètre supérieur à celui de la face périphérique extérieure 8 de la paroi 6 en référence à l'axe 2, toutefois avec possibilité de rabattement des ailettes 31 vers ce dernier, jusqu'à un diamètre correspondant à celui de la face périphérique extérieure 8 de la paroi 6, ce qui correspond à un état de l'empennage 25 lorsque le projectile 1 est engagé dans le tube d'arme 3 ; par élasticité, les ailettes 31 se déplacent automatiquement pour gagner leur position d'évasement de l'empennage 25 vers l'arrière dès que le projectile 1 a quitté le tube d'arme 3, après le tir.

The empennage 25 is advantageously produced by stamping and thermoforming a plastic plate, elastically flexible, thus defining:

• a flat mounting base 26, which is oriented transverse to the axis 2, centered on the latter and has on the one hand a central hole 27 passing through it longitudinally right through and delimited by an inner peripheral face 28 cylindrical of revolution around the axis 2 with a diameter substantially identical to that of the inner peripheral face 21 of the endpiece 24, and on the other hand an outer periphery 29, in the shape of a regular polygon, and more precisely with four sides in the illustrated example, with an exinscribed circle diameter smaller than that of the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6, with reference to the axis 2; the central hole 27 and the inner peripheral face 21 of the end piece 24, suitably tapped, receive coaxially, from the rear, a bolt 30 for tightening the base 26, flat, against the shoulder 23 of the end piece 24 in order to secure the empennage 25 with the body 5;
• as many elastically flexible fins 31 as there are sides of the polygon defined by the periphery 29 of the base 26, namely four fins 31 in the example illustrated, each of these fins having a front end 82 secured to the base 26 the along one side of the polygon and a free rear end 83 which, by elasticity of the material constituting the empennage 25, tends to shift transversely towards the outside with respect to the front end 82, that is to say to be further from the axis 2 than the latter, so that the tail 25 has a flared shape towards the rear with a diameter greater than that of the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6 with reference to the axis 2, however with the possibility of folding the fins 31 towards the latter, up to a diameter corresponding to that of the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6, which corresponds to a state of the tail 25 when the projectile 1 East engaged in the weapon tube 3; by elasticity, the fins 31 move automatically to gain their flaring position of the tail 25 towards the rear as soon as the projectile 1 has left the weapon tube 3, after firing.

In order to cause a nutation movement of the projectile 1 around axis 2, during the flight between the weapon tube 3 and the impact on the target, in order to stabilize the trajectory of the projectile 1, the fins 31 have a helical shape. For example, for this purpose, each fin 31 has a first plane plane 32 in the shape of a rectangular trapezium, the side perpendicular to the bases coincides with one side of the periphery 29 of the base 26 to constitute the front end 82 of the fin 31 and the large base extends to the free end 83 thereof, so that this first panel 32 presents the oblique side of the trapezoid towards the rear, defining a rectilinear fold 33 in the fin 31, and a second plane plane 34 having the shape of a right triangle including the hypotenuse coincides with fold 33, whose long side of the right angle extends the small base of the rectangular trapezoid defined by the first panel 32, forming an angle with this small base so that the pan 34 is offset towards the outside relative to the pan 32, and the short side of the right angle defines the free end 83 of the fin 31.

The choice of the constituent material of the empennage 25 and the conformation of the blades 31 are advantageously carried out, in the area of normal skill of a person skilled in the art, so that the flight of projectile 1 is accompanied by a whistling sound.

The nose 11 has a flat transverse wall 35 rigid, for example metallic, delimited, in the direction of a distance relative to axis 2, by an outer peripheral face 36 having a diameter substantially equal to that of the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6 inside which the wall 35 is thus fitted, with intimate mutual contact between faces 36 and 7, in the immediate vicinity of the front face 9 of wall 6.

Forward, the outer peripheral face 36 is connected to a annular shoulder, plane 37, of revolution about axis 2, this shoulder 37 being turned towards the rear and bearing flat on the front face 9 of wall 6 to limit the penetration of wall 35 to inside of it. In the direction of a distance from axis 2, this shoulder 37 connects itself to a peripheral face outer 38, cylindrical of revolution around axis 2 with a diameter identical to that of the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6, that this face 38 extends forward, without apparent discontinuity. This outer peripheral face 38 delimits, in the direction of a distance relative to axis 2, a rim 39, annular of revolution around this axis, which the wall 35 has projecting forward, in one piece. Towards axis 2, this rim 39 is delimited by an inner peripheral face 40 also cylindrical of revolution around axis 2 while it is delimited forwards by a flat annular face 41, of revolution around axis 2, which connects to the outer peripheral face 38 by a softened edge not referenced and to the inner peripheral face 40 by a collar 42, annular of revolution around the axis 2 and placed projecting towards the latter relative to the inner peripheral face 40, in an extreme area before it. Backwards, this face inner device 40 of the rim 39 is connected to a front face 43 of the wall 35, which front face 43 is transverse flat, and more precisely has the shape of a disc perpendicular to axis 2 and centered on it; this face 43 is for example coplanar with shoulder 37.

The face 43, the face 40 and the flange 42 thus define, immediately in front of the wall 35, a receiving cavity 44 and immobilization, for example by crimping by means of the collar 42 and gluing, of a warhead 45, of general shape of revolution around the axis 2, intended to undergo impact with the target and produced for this purpose in a material with elasticity of rubber, for example silicone with shore A hardness between 10 and 30, preferably between 12 and 15, this example is in no way limiting. For this purpose, the warhead 45 has, in projecting forward with respect to the front face 41 of the rim 39, a form hemispherical around an unreferenced center located at the intersection of axis 2 with a geometric plane defined by the rim 41 and, projecting towards the rear inside the cavity 44, a cylindrical tenon retained in compression preload inside the collar 42 so ensure a crimping effect and glued flat to the front face 43 of the wall 35, these fixing examples being in no way limiting.

Towards the rear, the wall 35 is delimited by a transverse face, plane 46 parallel to face 43 and having a shape annular of revolution around the axis 2. In the direction of a distance relative to this, this face 46 is connected to face 36, the distance mutually separating the faces 43 and 46, also defining the longitudinal dimension of the face 36 and therefore the depth depression of the wall 35 inside the wall 6, being weak by relative to the longitudinal dimension of the latter between its faces front and rear 9 and 10 so that between the face 46 of the wall 35 and the shoulder 81 of the tail 12 remains a free longitudinal distance constituting most of the longitudinal dimension of the wall 6.

Sliding mounted on this longitudinal distance longitudinal inside the wall 6 with guide for this purpose by the face inner peripheral 7 thereof, a sealed container 47 for a pressurized fluid, especially an incapacitating fluid or a marking, intended to be spread by the projectile 1 after its impact against a target in direction 4.

According to the conformation of this container 47, it can cooperate with the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6, for the purpose of guiding relative longitudinal sliding, via a slide integral with this container 47 but mounted for longitudinal sliding against the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6, so illustrated but easily conceivable by a skilled person, or cooperate directly for this purpose with the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6, as is the case in the illustrated example where the container 47 has the shape of an aerosol can with a side wall 48 tubular, of revolution around axis 2 and essentially delimited, in the direction of a distance from it, by a face external device 49 cylindrical of revolution around this axis with a diameter substantially identical to that of the peripheral face inside 7 of the wall 6 so that is established between the faces 49 and 7 a sliding guide contact with relative longitudinal sliding. Towards the front, this wall 48 is connected, advantageously by making it a single piece, to a flat bottom wall 50, perpendicular to the axis 4 and in particular bounded towards the front by a flat front face 51, in disc shape centered on axis 2 and connected to face 49 by an edge softened, in the direction of a distance from axis 2. Towards the rear, the wall 48 is connected in a sealed manner, by a crimping, to a filling valve mechanism 52 arranged as follows axis 2 and turned to the rear, the crimp creating behind the face external device 49 a shoulder 53 annular of revolution around axis 2, plane and facing back. Closer to this shoulder 53 that of the front face 51, the wall 48 is locally deformed towards the axis 2 in order to present inside the container 47 a rib limiting the penetration of the valve mechanism 52, as is well known from a A person skilled in the art, and this deformation creates, in the peripheral face outside 49 of the wall 48, a groove-shaped depression 54 annular, of revolution around axis 2, closer to shoulder 53 than from the front face 51.

The longitudinal dimension mutually separating the shoulder 53 and the front face 51 is less than the longitudinal distance separating mutually the shoulder 81 and the rear face 46 of the wall 35, so that the container 47 can occupy in particular inside the body 5 and the projectile 1 the position illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, in which it rests backwards, by the shoulder 53, on the shoulder 81 of the tail 12, the valve mechanism 52 being freely received coaxially inside of the latter, and in which its front face 51 is spaced longitudinally of the rear face 46 of the wall 35, which corresponds to the position that the container 47 occupies inside the body 5 of the projectile 1 before the firing of the latter, after its shooting during its flight and until impact.

So that this impact results in a perforation of the bottom 50 of the container 47, that is to say by the release of the fluid which it contains, the wall 35 projecting rearwards, along axis 2, on its face rear 46 a striker 55 in the form of a hollow longitudinal needle, bevelled towards the rear, presenting perpendicularly to the face 46 a longitudinal dimension corresponding substantially to the difference between the longitudinal dimension mutually separating the shoulder 81 and the face 46 and the distance mutually separating the shoulder 53 and the face 51 so that, in the position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, that is to say in the position before impact, the striker 35 is placed in contact with the front face 51 of the container 47 resting by its shoulder 53 on the shoulder 81 of the tail 12, however without constraint.

The striker 55, advantageously made in one piece with the wall 35, is delimited in the direction of a distance from the axis 2 by an outer peripheral face 56 of cylindrical revolution around of this axis with a diameter substantially smaller than that of the face inner peripheral 7 of the wall 6. This outer peripheral face 56 is connected forwards to the rear face 46 of the wall 35 and towards the rear to a flat annular face 57, inclined for example by 45 ° by relative to axis 2 and facing down, which defines for striker 55 a free rear end, at a bevel, and connects this peripheral face outer 56 to an inner peripheral face 58, cylindrical of revolution around axis 2 and delimiting inside the striker 55 a longitudinal passage 59 open towards the rear inside the face in bevel 57 and extending forward to the inside of the wall 35, in which it is closed forward. However, inside the wall 35, this passage 59 opens into a plurality of channels 60, the number of eight in the illustrated example, which radiate from it, radially with reference to axis 2, up to the peripheral face outside 36 of the wall 35 into which they open. Each of these channels 60 is for example defined by an inner peripheral face 61, cylindrical of revolution about a respective axis 62 perpendicular to axis 2, the different axes 62 being regularly distributed angularly around it and the respective diameters of the peripheral faces interior 61 being mutually equal but less than the diameter of the inner peripheral face 58 of striker 55. Opposite each of the channels 60, coaxial to this, the wall 6 is drilled right through a hole 63 delimited by a cylindrical inner peripheral face 64 of revolution around the respective axis 62 with a diameter identical to that of the inner peripheral face 61 of a channel 60, so that the passage 59, channels 60 and holes 63 establish communication between a cavity 65, otherwise sealed, which define the walls 6 and 35 as well as the tail 12, and in which is housed the container 47, and the outside of the body 5. Naturally, other modes arrangement, in wall 35, of channels 60 and other numbers of these could be chosen without departing from the framework of the present invention.

Thus, when projectile 1, taken out of the weapon barrel, strikes its target 66, in direction 4, as shown in FIG. 4, the container 47 tending to continue to move by inertia, forwards, inside the wall 6 meanwhile immobilized in this direction by target 66 comes to rest with a consequent longitudinal force, towards the front, on the striker 55 which perforates the bottom 50, which frees the container 47 from a sliding forward with respect to wall 6, so that the container 47 advances in body 1 until its bottom 50 comes apply flat, by its face 51, against the rear face 46 of the wall 35 as illustrated in Figure 4. By the perforation 67 then caused in the bottom 50, the pressurized fluid 68 initially enclosed in the container 57 escapes from it by successively traversing the longitudinal passage 59 of striker 55, towards the front, then each of channels 60 and the holes 63, centrifugally with reference to axis 2, until it leaves the body 5 of the projectile 1, in a distributed manner transversely around it, and spreading over target 66.

This process, implementing exclusively a sliding of the container 47 forward inside the body 5, is illustrated in the right half of Figure 4.

The left half of it illustrates an alternative embodiment of the projectile, according to which this effect is completed or replaced by an effect longitudinal crushing of the wall 6 on impact.

To facilitate such crushing, compression can be promoted longitudinal of the wall 6 at least in a longitudinally zone intermediate between the container 47 and the transverse wall 35, by example as illustrated in the left half of Figure 1, in digging into the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6, so located immediately behind the rear face 46 of the wall 35, non-traversing longitudinal cuts 69 of one dimension longitudinal preferably corresponding approximately to double of the longitudinal distance mutually separating the front face 51 of the container 47 and the rear face 46 of the wall 35 when, as it is illustrated in the right half of FIG. 1, the front face 51 is in abutment without constraint and without perforation, forward, against the striker 55. Upon impact, and as shown in the left half of Figure 4, the notches 69 open and allow the formation, in the wall 6, of folds 70 projecting, in the direction of a distance from axis 2, on the face external device 8 of the wall 6, this formation translating itself by an apparent shortening of the wall 6 between the shoulder 81 and the rear face 46 of the wall 35, thus forcing the bottom 50 of the container 47 to press forcibly against the striker 55 which pierces it. The formation of the folds 70 outwards makes it possible to prevent the presence of the container 47 inside the wall 6 does not prevent shortening apparent from the wall 6 and also makes it possible to avoid constituting a obstructs the longitudinal sliding of the container 47 inside the wall 6 when the two apparent shortening effects of this and sliding the container 47 forward inside the latter to cause perforation of the bottom 50 by the striker 55. In all cases, the arrangement of the passage 59 through the striker 55, channels 60 inside the wall 35 and holes 63 opposite these channels 8 prevents any obstacle to the exit of the fluid initially contained in container 47.

Due to the high ductility generally exhibited by materials, such as aluminum or aluminum-based alloys, constituting the walls of aerosol cans which are preferably used to constitute the container 47, however, there may be a imperfect tear in the bottom 50 of the container 47 around the perforation 60, in the sense that this tear releases in this bottom 50 a tongue which remains attached to the rest of the bottom and is plate on the annular face 57 to the interior of which the passage 59 opens longitudinally towards the rear, which has the effect of closing the passage 59 and preventing by Consequently the routing of the fluid towards the channels 60 and the holes 63.

However, this risk can be mitigated or eliminated by conforming differently the striker 55, for example according to an illustrated variant in FIGS. 9, 11, 13 or according to a variant illustrated in FIGS. 10, 12, 14, respectively, it being understood that the other components of the projectile may remain in accordance with one or other of the embodiments by elsewhere described. We therefore find in Figures 9 to 14, under the same reference numbers as in Figures 1 to 8, different components described in relation to these figures, identically except for localized differences which will now be described.

We will first refer to Figures 9, 11, 13 where we have illustrated a variant of striker 55 which does not differ from the embodiment of this one previously described only by the fact that it is pierced transversely right through, from one to the other of its faces interior 58 and exterior 56 peripherals, of at least one orifice thus opening on the one hand into passage 59 and on the other hand inside of the body 5, behind the wall 35 and more precisely at a distance longitudinal of the rear face 46 thereof at least equal and of preferably greater than the thickness of the bottom 50.

In the nonlimiting example illustrated, three of these orifices have been provided. 85, 86, 87, each of which is oriented along a respective axis perpendicular to axis 2 and has a cylindrical periphery of revolution around this respective axis, with a respective diameter also as large as possible within limits compatible with an imperative of mechanical resistance of striker 55 so as to provide the fluid with a cumulative section of passage as close as possible to that of passage 59.

More specifically, in the example illustrated and if we refer to Figures 9 and 13 on which the annular face 57 is oriented perpendicular to the cutting plane, the orifice 85 is arranged according to an axis 88 located in this plane and perpendicularly cuts axis 2 to the intersection of this one with the geometrical plane, not referenced, of the face 57; the orifices 86 and 87 have the same axis 89 perpendicular to the plane of Figures 9 and 13 and cutting perpendicular to axis 2 between the intersection of axis 88 with it and the rear face 46 of the wall 35, and they have the same diameter which is less than that of the orifice.

Thus, even if the percussion of the bottom 50, during the impact of the projectile 1 on its target, releases from this bottom 50 a tongue 84 which comes press on face 57 and thus close passage 59 backwards, like the shows figure 13, this communicates with the interior of the container 47 by the orifices 85, 86, 87 which are placed behind the bottom 50 and, thus, allow the fluid of the container 47 to escape from it, towards outside the projectile 1, through the passage 50, the channels 60 and the holes 63.

Naturally, it would not go beyond the scope of the invention to choosing other arrangements to preserve communication between the interior of the container 47, after perforation thereof, and the passage 59 even if a tongue 84 of bottom material 50 closes this one backwards.

It would not go beyond the scope of the present invention in shaping the striker 55 so that it prevents the formation of a such tab 84 or, at least, the passage closure 59 by the latter and an alternative embodiment of the striker 55, for this purpose, will be described in present with reference to Figures 10, 12, 14. A skilled person will easily understand that, although this other variant is described regardless of the variant illustrated in Figures 9, 11, 13, both variants could easily be combined.

In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 10, 12, 14, the striker 55 does not differs from that which has been described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 than by the it is hollowed out, at its free rear end, with a step 90 which forms a step forward with respect to its annular face 57, in the area thereof closest to the wall 35, and opens out longitudinally backwards in this area and transversely in the inner 58 and outer 56 peripheral faces.

More specifically, in the example illustrated, the annular face 57 has an interruption 91 located in its area closest to the wall 35, symmetrically with respect to a plane perpendicular to the annular face 57 and including axis 2, namely the plane of FIG. 11, and the step 90 is delimited by two flat longitudinal faces 92, 93, mutually symmetrical with respect to this plane and connecting towards the rear to the annular face 57, respectively on either side of the interruption 91 of the latter, and by a flat transverse face 94, facing backwards and mutually connecting these two faces longitudinal 92, 93 in front of the annular face 57. However, the face transverse 94 is preferably placed at a longitudinal distance from the face 46 of the partition 35, behind the latter, greater than the thickness of the bottom wall 50 of the container 47.

The two longitudinal faces 92, 93 are for example located in the same plane not referenced parallel to axis 2 and perpendicular to plane of Figure 11. Preferably, as illustrated, the plane of the faces 92, 93 is located on the same side of axis 2 as the zone of the annular face 57 closest to the wall 35, so that the break 91 of the face annular 57, and with it the step 90, extend over less than half of the periphery of this annular face 57, and for example over 120 ° in reference to axis 2, this value being indicated only as an example not limiting.

A skilled person will easily understand that others conformations of step 90 can be adopted without leaving the part of the present invention.

When, during the impact of the projectile on its target, the bottom 50 of the container 47 advances towards the wall 35, it first comes into contact with the striker 55 by the area of the bevel face 57 farthest from this wall 35, which causes it to perforate and can cause release progressive of a tongue 84, as the bottom 50 comes to contact of areas of face 57 respectively closer and closer to the wall 35; this tongue 84 tends to remain applied against the face 57, in an oblique orientation relative to the axis 2. When the bottom 50 reaches at the level of the interruption 91 of the face 57, it crosses the step 90 of which the longitudinal faces 92, 93 then the transverse face 94 straighten the tongue 84 to tend to orient it parallel to axis 2 before the bottom 50 does not come up against the front against the face 46 of the wall 35, as illustrated in Figure 14; so when container 47 comes stop against the face 46 of the wall 35, the tongue 84 possibly formed in its bottom 50 is oriented so that it does not risk to close the mouth of the passage 59 of the striker 55 in the face annular 57, that is to say that it does not constitute any obstacle to the exit, towards the passage 59, the channels 60 and the holes 63, of the fluid initially contained in container 47.

In order to avoid accidental perforation of it before the impact on a target 66, and in particular during storage of the projectile, during loading of the weapon not shown and during handling this is preferably provided with locking means for immobilize the container 47 relative to the body 5 as long as the projectile 1 is placed inside the weapon tube 3, and to automatically release the container 47 vis-à-vis a longitudinal sliding relative to the body 3 when the projectile 1 leaves the weapon barrel 3. A first embodiment of these locking means in the figures 1 to 4, and a second example in FIGS. 5 to 7, it being understood that these examples are also compatible with the variant embodiments of the striker illustrated in Figures 8 to 14.

We will first refer to Figures 1 to 4, where we have illustrated these locking means in the form of an annular bead 71 transverse, annular of revolution around the axis 2, projecting on the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6 of the body 5 in a area placed transversely opposite the groove 54 forming a depression in the outer peripheral face 49 of the wall 48 of the container 47 when the latter is supported rearward, by the shoulder 53, on the shoulder 81 of the tail 12 of the body 5.

The bead 71 is continuous, connected without discontinuity to the wall 6 and advantageously made in one piece with it. When, as shown in Figure 3, the projectile 1 is engaged in the weapon barrel 3, having a cylindrical inner peripheral face 72 of revolution around an axis then coinciding with axis 2 with a diameter substantially identical to that of the outer peripheral face 8 of the wall 6, in order to cooperate with this outer peripheral face 8 for guide the body 5 to longitudinal sliding in the weapon tube 3 during of the shot, the bead 71 bearing on this peripheral face interior 72 which applies compression to axis 2 causes it to at least partially elastic deformation, and where appropriate slightly plastic, from wall 6 in the direction of approximation opposite of axis 2, which gives birth, on the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6, to a bead 73 also annular of revolution around of axis 2 and forming a projection towards it relative to the face inner peripheral 7 of the wall 6, that is to say penetrating inside the groove 54 so as to immobilize the container 47 by relative to the wall 6, in the support position of the shoulder 53 on shoulder 21.

In addition, the bead 71, resting under stress on the face inner device 72 of the weapon tube 3 due to the elasticity of the material constituting the wall 6, ensures retention of the projectile 1 by friction between this inner peripheral face 72, on the one hand, and a sealing between the projectile 1 and this face 72, on the other hand, so particularly advantageous when, as is frequently the case, the shot 1 is carried out by accumulation of gas under pressure between it and a cylinder head not shown closing the tube 3 backwards, either by introduction of a gas under pressure or direct generation of such a gas under pressure, for example by combustion of a pyrotechnic composition adapted.

Once the projectile has left the weapon tube 3, as shown in the Figures 1, 2, 4, the elasticity of the wall 6 brings back the bead 71, released from the compression applied to it by the inner peripheral face 72, in its original conformation, i.e. protruding on the peripheral face exterior 8 of the wall 6, which causes the protruding bead 73 to disappear on its inner peripheral face 7 and consequently frees the passage for sliding the container 47 forwards inside the wall 6.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 8, the bead 71 is removed, but in the wall 6 are cleared, by cutouts suitable, resiliently flexible tabs 74, for example longitudinally oriented and eight in number, equally divided angularly around axis 2 although other arrangements and other numbers can be chosen without leaving the framework of the present invention.

Each tongue 74, thus integrally formed with the wall 6, has one end 75, here before, connected integrally to the rest of this wall 6, and a free end 76, here rear, bearing integrally, for example by making a single piece, a protrusion 77 in protruding in the direction of a distance from axis 2, on the face outer device 8 of the wall 6 when, as shown by Figures 5, 6, 8, the projectile 1 came out of the weapon barrel 3. Indeed, this tongue 74 tends elastically to maintain a conformation in which part of the inner 7 and outer 8 peripheral faces which corresponds to it remains arranged according to the same geometric cylinder respective that the rest of the respectively inner peripheral wall or outside of the wall 6.

When, on the other hand, the projectile 1 is housed inside the tube weapon 3, as shown in Figure 7, the inner peripheral face 72 of it based on the respective protuberance 77 made disappear the projection that it forms relative to the peripheral face outside 8 of the wall 6, that is to say causes a bending of each tongue 74 towards axis 2 at the level of the protrusion 77, so that the free end 76 of each tongue 74 forms a projection towards axis 2 on the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6. Given of a positioning of the protrusions 77 identical to that of the bead 71, that is to say in coincidence with the groove 54 of the wall 48 of the container 47 supported by a shoulder 53 on the shoulder 81 of the tail 12 of body 5 of projectile 1, the free ends 76 of the different tabs 74 then penetrate into the groove 54 and constitute a stop opposing a movement of the container 47 forwards inside the body 5.

Once the projectile 1 is out of the weapon tube 3, the constraint exerted by the face 72 thereof on the protrusions 77 ceases and the tabs 74 spring back in a position in which each protrusion 77 is placed projecting from the peripheral face outer 8, so that the free ends 76 of the tabs 74 retract vis-à-vis the inner peripheral face 7 of the wall 6 in the direction of a distance from axis 2, thereby releasing the container 47 vis-à-vis a sliding forward inside the body 5.

In the event that, instead of being mounted directly to the sliding inside the body 5, the container 47 would be mounted at sliding inside the body 5 by means of a slide, the bead 71 or the tabs 74 could cooperate, in a way identical to that which has been described with reference to groove 54, with a similar groove in the slide. Such a solution was not represented, and its realization falls within the normal aptitudes of a Man of career.

Naturally, other methods of locking the container 47, or of the slide carrying it integrally, inside the body 5 could be chosen without departing from the scope of this invention, especially if one chose to cause the movement of the container 47 leading to the perforation of its bottom 50 by the striker 55 not by inertial movement of the container 47 or by apparent shortening of the wall 6, as illustrated, but by other means such as delay pyrotechnic means initiated during of the projectile. In such a case, for example, one could ensure temporary containment of container 47 against sliding at inside the body 5 by pins working in shear and breaking when the gas pressure generated by the pyrotechnic means above would be sufficient to exceed a predetermined threshold, or when the combination of this effect and an inertial effect exerted on the container 47 on impact became sufficient to exceed this threshold predetermined breakage of the pins. The realization of projectile 1 according to this variant, as well as other variants, is a skill normal of a skilled person and would not depart from the framework of the present invention.

Similarly, although we have described with reference to Figures 1 to 14 of the modalities of application of the present invention in the case of a projectile 1 intended to be pulled in a specified longitudinal direction 4 from a tube weapon 3 and to release the pressurized fluid 68 from the container 47 during a impact in this direction 4 on a target 66, it comes under normal skills of a person skilled in the art of adapting these methods to the case of a projectile 1 intended to be projected by another means, in particular launched by hand, and / or releasing the pressurized fluid from the container in a controlled manner other than by impact on a target in the longitudinal direction determined, in particular by percussion of the container 47 accordingly a longitudinal sliding thereof inside the body 5 of the projectile 1, towards the striker 55 and towards the transverse partition 35 which carries the latter, by action of pyrotechnic or mechanical-pyrotechnic means known in themselves, in particular put into service voluntarily by a user before launching projectile 1.

Claims (17)

1. A non-lethal projectile adapted to be projected, in particular fired, from a tube (3) in a given longitudinal direction (4), and to disperse a pressurized fluid (68) in a controlled manner, in particular by impact on a target (66) in said direction (4), the projectile (1) including to this end a longitudinal body (5) having a nose (11) at the front and a tail (12) at the rear, a container (47) for the pressurized fluid (68) adapted to be perforated and disposed in said body (5) between its nose (11) and its tail (12), a longitudinal striker (55) for perforating said container (47) juxtaposed longitudinally thereto and carried by a transverse wall (35) attached to the body (5), means (7, 49, 69) for enabling or causing longitudinal movement towards each other of the container (47) and the striker (55) and controlled perforation of the container by the striker, in particular by impact on the target (66) in said direction (4), and means (59, 60, 63) for dispersing the fluid (68) to enable the fluid (68) to exit the body (5) in a transversely-distributed manner on perforation of the container (47) by the striker (55),
      characterized in that the means (59, 60, 63) for dispersing the fluid (68) include a blind longitudinal passage (59) through the striker (55) open at the end towards the container (47) and closed inside said wall (35), and a plurality of transverse passages (60) in said wall (35) radiating from said passage (59) and opening to the exterior of the body (5) (holes 63).
2. A projectile according to claim 1, characterized in that the striker (55) has longitudinally opposite said wall (35) a free end (59) in the form of a bevel onto which said blind passage (59) opens longitudinally.
3. A projectile according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the striker (55) has longitudinally opposite said wall (35) a free end (face 57) that includes a step (29) set back longitudinally towards said wall (35) and onto which said blind passage (59) opens longitudinally.
4. A projectile according to claim 2 in combination with claim 3, characterized in that the step (90) is formed in the area of the bevel (face 57) closest to said wall (35) in the longitudinal direction.
5. A projectile according to claim 4, characterized in that the step (90) extends over at least half the periphery of the bevel (face 57).
6. A projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the striker (55) has, longitudinally on the same side of said wall (35) as the container (47), at least one transverse orifice (85, 86, 87) that opens into said blind longitudinal passage (59).
7. A projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the striker (55) is attached to said transverse wall (35) and the means (7, 49, 69) for enabling or causing longitudinal movement of the container (47) and the striker (55) towards each other and perforation of the container (47) by the striker include a longitudinally compressible area of the body (5) longitudinally between the container (47) and said transverse wall (55).
8. A projectile according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the striker (55) is attached to said transverse wall (35) and the means (7, 49, 69) for enabling or causing longitudinal movement of the container (47) and the striker (55) towards each other and perforation of the container (47) by the striker include mounting the container (47) to slide longitudinally relative to the body (5), the striker (55) and said wall (35) being disposed in front of the container (47).
9. A projectile according to claim 8, characterized in that it includes locking means (71, 74 through 77) for immobilizing the container (47) relative to the body (5) when the projectile (1) is inside the tube (3) and to release the container (47) automatically to slide longitudinally relative to the body (5) when the projectile (1) exits the tube (3).
10. A projectile according to claim 9, characterized in that the body (5) is in the form of an elastically deformable material wall (6) between the nose (11) and the tail (12) and has a smooth inside face (7) for guiding the container (47) when it slides longitudinally in the body (5) and a smooth outside face (8) for guiding the projectile (1) when it slides longitudinally in the tube (3), in that said outside face (8) has a localized protuberance (71, 77) adapted to be depressed and form a projection on said inside face (7) when the projectile (1) is engaged in the tube (3) and to project on the outside face (8) and eliminate the projection on the inside face (7) when the projectile (1) has left the tube (3), and in that the container (47) has a localized depression (groove 54) in it transversely facing said protuberance (71, 77) when the container (47) is juxtaposed to the striker (55).
11. A projectile according to claim 10, characterized in that said localized depression (54) is in the form of a transverse annular groove (54).
12. A projectile according to claim 11, characterized in that the protuberance (71, 77) is in the form of a transverse bead (71) connected without discontinuity to the wall (6) of the body (5).
13. A projectile according to claim 10 or claim 11, characterized in that said wall (6) includes at least one elastically flexible tongue (74) having one end (75) attached to the wall and offset relative to said protuberance (77) and a free end (76) carrying said protuberance (77) which is attached to it.
14. A projectile according to any one of claims 8 through 13, characterized in that means (7, 49, 69) for enabling or causing longitudinal movement towards each other of the container (47) and the striker (55) and perforation of the container (47) by the striker are controlled by means chosen from a group including inertial means, pyrotechnic means and mechanical-pyrotechnic means.
15. A projectile according to any one of claims 1 through 14, characterized in that it includes stabilizing fins (3) attached to the tail (12) of the body (5) and adapted to occupy a retracted position in which they are retained and elastically stressed by the tube (3) when the projectile (1) is engaged therein and to be deployed by virtue of their elasticity when the projectile (1) has left the tube (3).
16. A projectile according to claim 15, characterized in that the fins (31) are made from an elastically deformable material and have one end (82) attached to the body (5) and a free end (83) tending by virtue of its elasticity to spread transversely outwards relative to the end (81) attached to the body (5).
17. A projectile according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterized in that the fins (31) are shaped to cause a whistling sound when the projectile (1) is in flight.

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