Abstract:
A device for joining a first face of a first container to a second face of a second container, in which the first face and the second face are alignable along a longitudinal axis, includes a plurality of hooks and a hook receiving portion. The plurality of hooks are spaced around a periphery of the first face of the first container. The hooks have tips and are movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis. The hook receiving portion is disposed around a periphery of the second face of the second container. The hook receiving portion includes a groove shaped to receive the tips of the hooks so that the first container can be joined to the second container. As a result, the device permits two containers to be joined securely yet disassembled quickly.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to containers for a propelling charge, and more particularly, to containers used in large caliber or tank artillery. 
     2. Background of Related Art 
     So as to adjust the firing range, it is often necessary to modify the amount of powder which is used to launch a projectile. 
     Approximately cylindrical modular containers made of a combustible material are known. Because these containers are rigid, they are easier to use than the traditional bags of powder. 
     So as to reduce the amount of space taken up by munitions inside armored vehicles, it may also be necessary to divide the munitions into two separate parts, one part carrying the main propelling charge and the other carrying the projectile and possibly a secondary propelling charge (as disclosed, for example, in British Patent GB2136929). 
     Joining two or more containers together speeds loading by allowing all the containers to be inserted in a single operation, for example, by an automatic loading device. 
     It is critical in this event to ensure that the containers are joined in such a way as to provide a rigid assembly. 
     Moreover, it may prove necessary to rapidly withdraw the charge already introduced in the chamber of a weapon. A withdrawal operation consumes more time and is more difficult if the whole charge is divided into several separate loads. 
     French Patent FR2672672 discloses a linking device for containers that includes a sliding ring and a self-gripping fastening device arranged on a first end face of the container. 
     Such a device, however, is both complicated and costly to manufacture. 
     Moreover, it may or may not be necessary, according to operational needs, to join the containers. However, the device disclosed in French Patent FR2672672 does not permit such a choice because the axial link cannot disassembled quickly. 
     In addition, the disclosed device is difficult to implement. To use the ring, the two containers must be correctly positioned radially. However, the fastening device is operational irrespective of the relative radial position of the two containers. As a consequence, the two containers are difficult to align, and it is therefore difficult to join them. 
     French Patent FR2098668 discloses joining two explosive metallic charges by a tubular connecting sleeve having flexible tabs Which, when the charges are put into place inside the sleeve, penetrate into an annular groove made on each charge, thus joining the two charges. Such a device has the disadvantage of requiring a third element, i.e., the sleeve, which adds bulk and causes storage and implementation problems. 
     German Patent DE2705235 discloses a link that is not between two parts of a charge but is between a case and a munition base. The link is achieved by clipping the base onto the case, the case having a shape that matches a corresponding shape on the base. This linking device has the disadvantage of not being dismountable. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An aim of the present invention is to provide a linking device for containers that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. 
     The linking device enables a rigid and reliable link to be established between at least two containers that can be disassembled easily and does not require any extra parts. According to operational needs, the device may also be stored for an operation in which containers are not joined. 
     Another aim of the present invention is providing a container that may be joined with another container by linking one of its end faces with such a linking device. 
     The invention may be applied to modular charges as well as charges having at least two loads, one carrying the main charge and its primer tube and the other the projectile (and possibly, but not necessarily, a secondary charge). 
     The device for joining a first face of a first container to a second face of a second container includes a plurality of hooks, which may be moved axially and which are evenly distributed around a periphery of the first face. Each hook includes a tip designed to be received by a circular groove arranged on the second container. Each tip has a profile that corresponds to a profile of the circular groove to ensure the axial locking of the containers. 
     The profile of the circular groove may include at least one slanted surface that extends away from the first face of the first container. 
     The slanted surface of the matching profiles forms angle of less than 90° and preferably about 80° with a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     Each hook may be disposed to move axially within a housing arranged on the outer surface of the first container. 
     The hook has a peg that is able to move axially inside a slot through the outer surface of the first container that terminates at a collar of a lid that is formed as a single piece with the first face. 
     The hook has a heel that engages a collar when the peg abuts the lid, the peg and the heel ensuring the axial locking of the hook. 
     According to a second embodiment, the hooks are formed as a single piece with a tapped ring mounted onto a threaded cylindrical part of a lid of the first container. 
     The hooks are formed of a plastic material, preferably polyoxymethylene, high density polyethylene or polyamide. 
     Another aim of the present invention is providing a container designed to be joined with another container by at least one of its end faces having at least one circular groove with a profile that is designed to cooperate with a matching profile of a hook of the other container. 
     The container includes a base and an outer surface having a groove. 
     A further aim of the invention is providing a container having at least three housings arranged on its outer surface, each housing being designed to receive a hook. 
     The housing can be formed as a single piece with the outer surface of the container and the lid. 
     The lid can include a collar through which the housings extend. 
     According to an alternative embodiment, the container includes a lid that is formed as a single piece with the outer surface and has a threaded cylindrical part designed to cooperate with a threaded ring to which the hooks are attached. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be made clearer after reading the description of the different embodiments, the description being made in reference to the appended drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a partial section of two containers before assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention, 
     FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show two views of an embodiment of the lid according to the invention, 
     FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b show two views of an embodiment of a hook according to the invention, 
     FIG. 4 shows the containers of FIG. 1 joined by a device according to the invention, 
     FIG. 5 shows a partial section of two containers before assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention, 
     FIG. 6 shows the containers of FIG. 5 joined by a device according to the invention, and 
     FIG. 7 shows a modular-type container according to the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to FIG. 1, a first face 2a of a first container 1a is designed to be joined to a second face 2b of a second container 1b. 
     A partial sectional view each of the two containers is shown in FIG. 1. 
     Each container includes a cylindrical outer surface 3a, 3b made of a combustible material such as nitrocellulose, cardboard or a mixture of cardboard and nitrocellulose. 
     The containers 1a and 1b are shown partially in FIG. 1. They are designed to receive a propelling charge of grains or sticks (not shown). 
     The container 1b includes a projectile attached to its first face (not shown) by a linking ring (for example, similar to the linking ring described in French Patent FR2620214). 
     The container 1a includes a base attached to its second face (not shown) having a primer tube (see, for example, French Patent FR2672672 which shows a device for fastening such a base to the outer surface). 
     The container 1a includes a lid 4 attached to its first face 2a that is made of a plastic material. The plastic material can be high density polyethylene, polyamide or the like. The lid 4 can be attached to the outer surface 3a adjacent a cylindrical support 5a, e.g., by bonding. 
     The lid 4 includes a collar 9a against which one end 10a of the outer surface 3a is abutted. 
     The container 1b includes a base 6 attached to its second face 2b that is made of plastic material similar to the material of which the lid is made. The base 6 is attached to the outer surface 3b adjacent a cylindrical support 5b, e.g., by bonding. One end 10b of the outer surface is abutted against a collar 9b of the base 6. 
     End plugs 7a, 7b, which are also made of a combustible material, are inserted in the lid 4 and the base 6, respectively, to close off the ends of the container. The end plugs 7a, 7b are attached to the lid 4 and the base 6, for example, by bonding. The end plugs 7a, 7b have axial openings 8a and 8b designed so that a flame can pass from one container to another during firing of the propelling charge. These openings are obstructed in a known way by combustible foils (not shown). 
     The container 1a includes hooks 11 made of plastic material. The plastic material can be polyoxymethylene, high density polyethylene or polyamide. The hooks, of which there are six in this example, are evenly distributed around the outer surface and are designed to join the two containers together. The hooks 11 are inserted into housings 12 that enable the hooks 11 to move in an axial direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container. 
     Each housing 12 disposed adjacent the outer surface of the container includes a slot 13 through the outer surface 3a that terminates at the end 10a, as well as a longitudinal groove 14 formed in the lid 4. 
     FIGS. 2a and 2b show an embodiment of the lid 4. FIG. 2a is a plan view of the lid 4, and FIG. 2b is a side view that includes a partial section of the lid 4. 
     The lid 4 includes six longitudinal grooves 14 evenly spaced around the circumference adjacent the cylindrical support 5a. The grooves 14 extend through the collar 9a to the front face 2a. Such a lid can be formed by molding. 
     FIGS. 3a and 3b show side and top views, respectively, of an embodiment of a hook 11. 
     The hook 11 has a width L slightly less than the width of the longitudinal groove 14 of the lid 4 and includes a peg 16 of a width that is slightly less than that of the slot 13 of the outer surface to guide the axial movement of the hook 11 in the housing 12. 
     The hook 11 also includes a flexible fold 15 designed to urge the hook 11 so that it remains in contact with the inner part of the outer surface and the bottom of the longitudinal groove 14. 
     The hook 11 also includes a heel 17 that is designed to provide an axial stop when the containers are joined. 
     The other end of the hook 11 includes a tip 20 designed to be inserted into a circular groove 18 on the base 6 of the second container 1b. The tip has a length which is slightly less than the length of the circular groove 18. 
     The tip 20 has a profile 19a designed to cooperate with a second matching profile 19b of the circular groove 18. These two profiles include corresponding surfaces 25a, 25b in which the angles x are approximately equal and are less than 90°, preferably about 80°. 
     The profile 19b is such that the top of the slanted surface 25b extends away from the first face 2a of the container 1a. 
     FIG. 4 shows the two containers 1a and 1b joined by the linking device according to the first embodiment. 
     The containers have been assembled by joining the first face 2a of the first container 1a to the second face 2b of the second container 1b. The alignment of the containers may be carried out using matching concave and convex surfaces made on the plugs 7a, 7b, as is described in French Patent FR2711209 (not shown). 
     The hooks 11 are moved axially such that the two matching profiles 19a, 19b of the hooks and of the groove 18 cooperate with each other. The axial movement of each hook may be carried out by pushing manually on the flexible fold and by sliding the hook towards the second face 2b. 
     The axial and radial locking of each hook is ensured by the peg 16 and the heel 17 that grip the collar 9a of the lid 4 to form stops under the action of the flexible fold 15. The hooks ensure that the two containers are joined in a rigid and reliable manner. 
     The tip 20 has a tapered angle 23 approximately equal to that of a tapered support 24 on the base 6 to facilitate sliding the hook 11 into the groove 18. 
     The end plugs 7a and 7b may be formed as a single piece with the lid 4 and the base 6, respectively. 
     The lid and the base 6 may also be formed as a single piece with the container attached to the projectile and the container attached to the base, respectively. 
     The hooks 11 have an outer profile approximately equal to the outer diameter of the containers 11, 1b. Thus, when the hooks 11 are in their locking position (FIG. 4) they are held in this position by the inner surface of the weapon chamber (not shown). Such an arrangement increases the rigidity of the link and ensures that the two joined containers can be withdrawn from the chamber. 
     To disassemble the joined containers, each hook 11 is disengaged from its groove 18 by pulling it by hand. The flexibility of the hook material facilitates its disengagement. 
     FIG. 5 shows two containers according to a second embodiment of the invention before being joined to each other. 
     The container 1b has a base 6 identical to that shown in FIG. 1. 
     The container 1a includes a lid 4 formed as one piece of a plastic material with the outer surface 3a, for example, by bonding the lid 4 to the outer surface 3a adjacent the cylindrical support 52. The lid 4 includes a collar 9a against which the end 10a of the outer surface 3a is abutted. 
     The lid 4 has a threaded cylindrical part 21 upon which a tapped ring 22 is engaged. 
     The ring 22 includes hooks 11 in which the tip 20 of each hook 11 is identical to that of the hooks described above in connection with FIGS. 1 to 4. The hooks, of which there are six in this example, are designed to join the two containers together by cooperation between the profile 19a of the hook and the matching profile 19b of the base 6. 
     FIG. 6 shows the two containers 1a and 1b of FIG. 5 joined by the linking device according to the second embodiment of the invention. 
     The axial movement of the hooks 11 is ensured in this embodiment by the threaded ring 22 which, by being screwed and unscrewed, may rotate with respect to the lid 4. The hooks 11 may then be positioned in the circular groove 18 by engaging the tip 20 of each hook, as shown in FIG. 6. 
     An axial stop may be disposed adjacent the first face 2a of the container 1a to prevent the ring 22 from becoming disengaged from the threaded cylindrical part 22 (not shown). 
     The second embodiment permits two containers to be joined in a single operation because the ring 22 positions all the hooks at once in the circular groove 18 and enables the assembly to be tightened after the tips are positioned, thereby increasing the rigidity of the link. 
     FIG. 7 shows a modular-type container according to the invention. This container, which is made of a combustible material similar to that described above, is designed to be joined to other substantially identical containers. 
     The container includes a combustible outer surface 3 that is closed off by two end plugs 7a and 7b. 
     One end of the container includes a base 6 having a groove 18, the other end includes a lid 4 fitted with hooks 11. 
     If the container does not need to be linked to another container, the hooks are left in their storage position in which they remain secure because the flexible fold 15 urges each hook against its housing. 
     If it is necessary for two containers to be joined to each other, the hooks are moved axially until their tips engage the groove 18 of another container. 
     Alternatively, the modular container can include the lid 4 that is fitted with a linking device according to the second embodiment of the invention as described above and shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.