Ammunition and explosives – Shells – Focused or directed detonation
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-27
2001-02-13
Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)
Ammunition and explosives
Shells
Focused or directed detonation
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186070
ABSTRACT:
COMBINED EFFECTS WARHEADS
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the U.S. Government for U.S. Governmental purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to munitions for penetration of targets. More particularly the invention relates to munitions that are designed to penetrate a broad spectrum of armored and unarmored vehicle targets.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The modern battlefield is likely to contain a broad spectrum of armored and unarmored vehicle targets. The penetration required to inflict lethal damage to the targets ranges from fractions of an inch for trucks to several inches for armored vehicles. Current munitions carry warheads that are specifically designed to either provide deep penetration of heavy armor or multiple fragments for wide area coverage.
Some armored vehicles such as tanks and the like carry sufficient armor so that the required penetration of several inches of armor is only achieved by relatively long, monolithic rods. However, rocket launchers, trucks, and lighter armored gun carrying vehicles may be defeated by penetration of only a fraction of an inch. Since there is only so much material in a warhead, it is not practical to attempt to defeat light armor and no armor vehicles with warheads that produce heavy armor piercing fragments, and, clearly, the multiple fragment warheads aren't any danger to heavy armored tanks and the like.
Presently available are warheads with single explosively formed penetrator forming liners. Also, warheads have been designed with multiple explosively formed penetrator forming liners. However, there has been no effort to provide a combination liner that would produce both at one time.
It would be of great advantage if a family of warhead concepts could be developed which combine both features, of deep penetration by larger fragments along with multiple fragments for wider coverage, in one single warhead.
Accordingly, one object of this invention is to provide a multiple size fragmenting warhead for use with a wide range of targets.
Another object of this invention is to provide a warhead capable of defeating a wide spectrum of targets.
A specific object of this invention is to provide a warhead that produces both a long rod explosively formed penetrator and multiple explosively formed penetrators in once device.
Other objects will appear hereinafter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It has now been discovered that the above and other objects of the present invention may be accomplished in the following manner. Specifically, the present invention is a combined effect warhead device for forming at least one aerostable rod fragment and a plurality of small fragments by explosive formation.
The warhead is centered about an axis and contains explosives and liners. It may be either axisymmetric or non-axisymmetric about its axis, depending upon the type of munition deploying device such as a cannon or the like is used to deliver the warhead. Typically, warheads of the present invention are to be used with conventional munitions. It is known to have warheads that produce aerostable rod and it is similarly known to have warheads that produce the plurality of fragments in present day munitions. Either munition may be used with the novel warheads of this invention.
The first liner forms an aerostable rod, whereby upon detonation of the warhead, explosively formed projectiles are produced including the aerostable rod for defeat of armored vehicles and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the first liner is unscored and curved, as these conditions have been found to produce the desired rod shape.
The second liner forms a plurality of fragments, whereby upon detonation of the warhead, a multiplicity of explosively formed projectiles are produced for defeat of trucks, light armored vehicles and the like. The second liner is scored to facilitate formation of the plurality of fragments. The second liner is almost flat and includes raised portions on its surface to facilitate formation of the plurality of fragments.
In some embodiments, it is desirable to include an interface material between the first and the second liner. Preferred materials include interface materials such as grease, plastics such as lexan, and combinations of explosive material and plastic.
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Fong Richard
Tang Steven
Moran John F.
Price Thomas
Sachs Michael C.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
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