Rupture device for a system for rapid release of fluid

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rupture device (1) designed to condition the release of a fluid contained in a rapid release system (2) comprising at least one reservoir (3) which is in the general form of a tube containing said fluid to be released and which is closed at its ends by a first flange (4) and a second flange (5), the latter provided with at least one outlet orifice, characterized in that the rupture device is designed to be clamped between the reservoir (3) and the second flange (5) and comprises at least: - a sealing plate (6) designed to be placed against the reservoir (3), and - a die-plate (7) designed to be placed between the sealing plate (6) and the second flange (5), and comprising at least one cut-out determining a zone of rupture of the sealing plate (6) when the pressure of the fluid inside the reservoir (3) reaches a determined value.

Description

Breakaway Device for Quick Fluid Release System Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of the protection of valuable objects such as, but not limited to, fiduciary securities, checkbooks, official administrative documents, or one or more cassettes containing fiduciary securities and intended for cash dispensers. It relates more specifically to a breaking device conditioning the release of a fluid contained in a rapid release system, as well as said rapid fluid release system comprising such a breaking device for smearing said values ​​during the break-in or attempted break-in of a container equipped with this system. State of the art

[0002] In the field of rapid fluid release, a certain number of systems are known comprising, in a conventional manner, at least: - a reservoir in the general shape of a tube containing at least one fluid to be released and closed at its ends by a first flange and a second flange provided with at least one outlet orifice and means for closing said outlet orifice conditioning the release of the fluid, - a piston sliding in a sealed manner inside and along the longitudinal axis of said reservoir, and - propulsion means integral with the first flange and capable of setting said piston in motion in order to release the fluid through said outlet orifice.

[0003] Such systems are disclosed in Italian patent application IT 2019 00010851 and European patent application EP 1 519 329.

[0004] Conventionally, the propulsion means are a gas generator chosen from the chemical, pyrotechnic, hybrid or cold gas type group, and the means for closing each outlet orifice are a rupture seal capable of tearing in order to release the fluid when the pressure of the fluid inside the tank reaches a determined value.

[0005] This type of rapid fluid release system is certainly effective, but it has the major drawback of being complex and expensive to manufacture. Indeed, the first flange and second flanges are complex parts that must be fixed, in a sealed manner, to the ends of the tank, the seal being obtained by means of an O-ring arranged in a groove made in the first flange and second flanges. Furthermore, the rupture seal, conventionally made of aluminum, of each outlet orifice is held in position by washers in a support screwed into the second flange, and requires a significant fluid pressure (of the order of 25 bars) inside the tank to break and release said fluid through said outlet orifice. Therefore, it is clear that the high number and implementation of all these elements increase the complexity and cost of this type of rapid fluid release system.Finally, the first and second flanges are relatively bulky parts and cannot be used symmetrically, which further complicates the implementation of this type of rapid fluid release system by requiring a multiplication of the types of parts.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to propose a rupture device arranged to condition the release of a fluid contained in a rapid fluid release system, said device being compact, simple to implement and manufacture, and making it possible to reduce the size and the number of parts of said release system, while simplifying the manufacture and implementation of the latter and limiting the pressure inside the reservoir necessary for the release of the fluid.

[0007] The invention also aims to propose the corresponding release system and a container provided with said release system.

[0008] According to the invention, there is therefore proposed a rupture device arranged to condition the release of a fluid contained in a quick release system comprising at least one reservoir in the general shape of a tube containing said fluid to be released and closed at its ends by a first flange and a second flange provided with at least one outlet orifice, said rupture device being remarkable in that it is clamped between the reservoir and the second flange, and comprises at least: - a sealing plate arranged against the reservoir, and - a punch plate arranged between the sealing plate and the second flange, and comprising at least one cutout determining a rupture zone of the sealing plate, when the pressure of the fluid inside the reservoir reaches a determined value, in order to release the fluid through said outlet orifice,said sealing plates and punches being configured so as to guarantee sealing between the tank and the second flange.,

[0009] Advantageously, the sealing plate is made of elastic material.

[0010] The sealing plate is preferably made of synthetic elastomer.

[0011] Each cutout of the die plate advantageously has sharp edges and / or has a shape presenting areas with walls forming an acute angle between them.

[0012] The invention also relates to a rapid fluid release system remarkable in that it comprises at least:- a reservoir in the general shape of a tube containing at least one fluid to be released and closed at its ends by a first flange and a second flange provided with at least one outlet orifice,- propulsion means integral with the first flange and capable of releasing the fluid through said outlet orifice, and- a rupture device according to the invention conditioning the release of the fluid and guaranteeing the seal between the reservoir and the second flange.

[0013] Advantageously, the first flange comprises a block in the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped bearing against the tank and a tube fixed to said block on the side opposite the tank and receiving the propulsion means.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment, the seal between the first flange and the reservoir is of the material / material seal type.

[0015] The means of propulsion are then advantageously a gas generator.

[0016] Advantageously, the second flange comprises a block in the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped bearing against the breaking device.

[0017] Finally, the invention further relates to a container for the secure storage and / or transport of valuable objects comprising an enclosure determining an internal compartment receiving said valuable objects, a cover allowing or not allowing access to said internal compartment, said container being remarkable in that it comprises a rapid fluid release system according to the invention to neutralize said valuables during the break-in or attempted break-in of said container, the fluid being a smearing fluid. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0019] is an exploded perspective exterior view of a rapid fluid release system provided with a rupture device according to the invention,

[0020] is an enlarged perspective view, from another point of view, of the first flange of the rapid fluid release system of the,

[0021] is an enlarged perspective view of the second flange of the rapid fluid release system of the.

[0022] With reference to Figures 1 and 3, the invention relates to a rupture device 1 arranged to condition the release of a fluid contained in a rapid release system 2 comprising at least one reservoir 3 in the general shape of a tube containing said fluid to be released and closed at its ends by a first flange 4 and a second flange 5 provided with at least one outlet orifice, not shown, and, in a conventional manner, a piston sliding in a sealed manner inside and along the longitudinal axis of said reservoir 3 in order to release the fluid through said outlet orifice.

[0023] It is understood that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the release system 2 may not include a piston.

[0024] Said rupture device 1 is arranged to be clamped between the reservoir 3 and the second flange 5 of the quick release system 2, and comprises at least: - a sealing plate 6 arranged to be arranged against the reservoir 3, and - a punch plate 7 arranged to be arranged between the sealing plate 6 and the second flange 5, and comprising at least one cutout 8, 8' determining a rupture zone of the sealing plate 6, when the pressure of the fluid inside the reservoir 3 reaches a determined value, in order to release the fluid through said outlet orifice, said sealing plates 6 and punch 7 being configured so as to guarantee the seal between the reservoir 3 and the second flange 5.

[0025] The person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in configuring said sealing plates 6 and punch 7, in particular by adapting their respective dimensions according to those of the release system 2, to guarantee the seal between the reservoir 3 and the second flange 5.

[0026] In the advantageous embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3, the punch plate 7 has two cutouts 8 and 8'.

[0027] It is clear that the rupture device 1, which is particularly simple and compact, not only ensures the function of closing said outlet orifice conditioning the release of the fluid, but also the sealing function between the reservoir 3 and the second flange 5.

[0028] For this purpose, the sealing plate 6 is advantageously made of elastic material and preferably of synthetic elastomer such as, for example, butyl rubber, the latter material being of interest because it offers high impermeability and good resistance to aging and to many chemical substances. The use of a sealing plate 6 made of synthetic elastomer also makes it possible to significantly reduce the pressure of the fluid inside the tank necessary for the rupture of said sealing plate 6 and therefore for the release of said fluid.

[0029] It is therefore perfectly clear that the sealing plate 6 guarantees the seal between the reservoir 3 and the second flange 5 so as to prevent any leakage towards the outside of the reservoir 3 of the fluid to be released, the punch plate 7 having the sole function of determining, at the right of each cutout 8, 8', a rupture zone of said sealing plate 6, the latter breaking following an increase in pressure of the fluid to be released contained inside the reservoir 3, and in no case under the action of a pressure wave coming from outside the release system 2 during, for example, an explosion, or under the action of the ignition of an inflammable substance during an alarm situation.

[0030] To further facilitate the breaking of said sealing plate 6 at the level of the cutout(s) 8, 8' and release the fluid contained in the reservoir 3 through said outlet orifice of the second flange 5, each cutout 8 or 8' of the punch plate 7 advantageously has sharp edges and / or has a shape having areas with walls forming an acute angle between them, so as to form a preferably pointed projecting area. In addition, each cutout 8 or 8' is advantageously of any shape and its walls do not necessarily extend perpendicular to the bearing plane between the punch plate 7 and the sealing plate 6. Finally, in the event that the punch plate 7 has two cutouts 8 and 8', the latter may be different or identical.

[0031] Furthermore, the sealing plates 6 and punch 7 comprise at least a plurality of orifices 9, 10 passing right through them to allow the passage of fixing screws 11 cooperating with threads 12 of the reservoir 3 to fix the second flange 5 on said reservoir 3 and ensure the sealing of this fixing by enclosing the rupture device 1 between them.

[0032] With reference to Figures 1 to 3, the present invention also relates to a rapid fluid release system 2 comprising at least: - a reservoir 3 in the general shape of a tube containing at least one fluid to be released and closed at its ends by a first flange 4 and a second flange 5 provided with at least one outlet orifice, not shown, - a piston, not shown, sliding in a sealed manner inside and along the longitudinal axis of said reservoir 3, and - propulsion means, not shown, integral with the first flange 4 and capable of setting said piston in motion in order to release the fluid through said outlet orifice, and - a rupture device 1, in accordance with the invention, clamped between the reservoir 3 and the second flange 5 and conditioning the release of the fluid and guaranteeing the seal between the reservoir 3 and the second flange 5.

[0033] It is understood that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the release system 2 may not include a piston. In this case, the release of the fluid through said outlet orifice is only obtained using the propulsion means.

[0034] With reference to the, the first flange 4 comprises a block 13 in the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped bearing against the tank 3 and a tube 14 fixed to said block 13 on the side opposite the tank 3 and receiving the propulsion means.

[0035] Furthermore, said block 13 comprises at least a plurality of orifices passing right through it to allow the passage of fixing screws 15 cooperating with threads 16 of the reservoir 3 to fix the first flange 4 on said reservoir 3 and ensure the sealing of this fixing.

[0036] Furthermore, in the case of a rupture device 1 with a sealing plate 6 made of synthetic elastomer, the seal between the first flange 4 and the reservoir 3 is obtained without an additional sealing member, for example, of the flat seal or O-ring type, but only by the contact of the first flange 4 on the reservoir 3, this type of seal being designated here by "material / material seal". Indeed, the use of a sealing plate 6 made of synthetic elastomer makes it possible to significantly reduce the pressure of the fluid inside the reservoir necessary for the release of said fluid, a material / material seal is then sufficient. This particular configuration makes it possible to further simplify the parts of the release system 2 and to reduce their number.

[0037] Similarly, with the previous configuration with a lower fluid pressure inside the tank required, the propulsion means are advantageously a gas generator chosen from the chemical, pyrotechnic, hybrid or cold or hot gas type group. It is understood that the propulsion means apply pressure, either directly or via a piston, to the fluid to compress it inside the tank 3, in order to tear the rupture of said sealing plate 6 at the level of the cutout(s) 8, 8', when the fluid pressure reaches a determined value, and release it through said outlet orifice of the second flange 5.

[0038] With reference to the, the second flange 5 comprises a block 17 in the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped coming to bear against the breaking device 1.

[0039] Furthermore, said block 17 comprises at least a plurality of orifices passing right through it to allow the passage of fixing screws 11 cooperating with threads 12 of the reservoir 3 to fix the second flange 5 on said reservoir 3.

[0040] It is understood that, thus configured, the first and second flanges 4, 5 are of particularly simple design, can be implemented symmetrically, and allow a significant reduction in the size of the release system 2.

[0041] Finally, the invention relates to a container for the secure storage and / or transport of valuable objects such as, but not limited to, fiduciary securities, checkbooks, official administrative documents, or one or more packages or cassettes containing fiduciary securities and intended for ATMs.

[0042] Said container comprises an enclosure determining an internal compartment receiving said valuables, a cover allowing or not allowing access to said internal compartment, and a rapid fluid release system in accordance with the invention to neutralize said valuables during the break-in or attempted break-in of said container, the fluid then being a smearing fluid.

[0043] The breaking device 1, the rapid fluid release system 2 and the container according to the invention are more particularly applicable to the storage and / or transport of valuable objects such as, for example, fiduciary values, but they can also be used for the storage and / or transport of valuable objects such as, for example, identity cards, driving licenses, vehicle registration cards, or even checkbooks.

[0044] Finally, it goes without saying that the examples of rupture device 1, rapid fluid release system 2 and container in accordance with the invention which have just been described are only particular illustrations, in no way limiting of the invention.

Claims

Breaking device (1) for conditioning the release of a fluid contained in a rapid release system (2) comprising at least one reservoir (3) in the general shape of a tube containing said fluid to be released and closed at its ends by a first flange (4) and a second flange (5) provided with at least one outlet orifice, said breaking device (1) being characterized in that it is clamped between the reservoir (3) and the second flange (5), and comprises at least: - a sealing plate (6) arranged against the reservoir (3), and - a punch plate (7) arranged between the sealing plate (6) and the second flange (5), and comprising at least one cutout (8, 8') determining a rupture zone of the sealing plate (6), when the pressure of the fluid inside the reservoir (3) reaches a determined value, in order to release the fluid through said outlet orifice,said sealing plates (6) and punch (7) being configured so as to guarantee sealing between the reservoir (3) and the second flange (5)., Breaking device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing plate (6) is made of elastic material. Breaking device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing plate (6) is made of synthetic elastomer. Breaking device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each cutout (8, 8') of the punch plate (7) has sharp edges and / or has a shape having areas with walls forming an acute angle between them. Rapid fluid release system (2) characterized in that it comprises at least:- a reservoir (3) in the general shape of a tube containing at least one fluid to be released and closed at its ends by a first flange (4) and a second flange (5) provided with at least one outlet orifice,- propulsion means integral with the first flange (4) and capable of releasing the fluid through said outlet orifice, and- a rupture device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4 conditioning the release of the fluid and guaranteeing the seal between the reservoir (3) and the second flange (5). Release system (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the first flange (4) comprises a block (13) in the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped bearing against the reservoir (3) and a tube (14) fixed to said block (13) on the side opposite the reservoir (3) and receiving the propulsion means. Release system (2) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the seal between the first flange (4) and the reservoir (3) is of the material / material seal type. Release system (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the propulsion means are a gas generator. Release system (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the second flange (5) comprises a block (17) in the overall shape of a flattened parallelepiped bearing against the breaking device (1). Container for the secure storage and / or transport of valuables comprising an enclosure determining an internal compartment receiving said valuables, a cover allowing or not allowing access to said internal compartment, said container (1) being characterized in that it comprises a rapid fluid release system (2) according to any one of claims 5 to 9 to neutralize said valuables during the break-in or attempted break-in of said container, the fluid being a smearing fluid.

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