Shaped-charge projectile and weapon system for launching...

Details Shaped-charge projectile and weapon system for launching... Shaped-charge projectile and weapon system for launching...

1998-11-03

2001-11-20

Price, Thomas (Department: 3643)

Ammunition and explosives

Shells

Focused or directed detonation

Reexamination Certificate

active

06318273

ABSTRACT:

The objective of the invention is a projectile, comprising a shaped-charge warhead, to be launched by a marksman toward a target using a launch system.
Antitank or light anti-armor projectiles already are known which are launched from generally recoil-less portable launch systems. These projectiles are propelled or not and their speed is about 250 m/s.
The known projectiles usually comprise one or several hollow charges which are initiated at an optimal target distance by a contact or proximity fuse. French Patent 2,718,842 describes such a projectile with a shaped charge.
Moreover these are known projectiles carrying a core-generating charge triggered at a distance by means of a target detector aboard the projectile.
Most often armor or light armor are fitted with protective means to detect the approach of antitank projectiles fired from light systems.
This protection may be by countermeasures such as grenades projected in front of the projectile causing its explosion away from the target thereby reducing its piercing effectiveness.
Such protection furthermore may be in the form of masking or decoying means interfering with the sensors aboard the projectile and preventing its ignition.
The objective of the invention is a projectile in particular for a light launching system and whose operation is unhampered by the protective means carried by the vehicle.
This projectile nevertheless retains high piercing effectiveness.
Accordingly the objective of the invention is a projectile launched by a marksman from a launch system toward a target and comprising a shaped-charge warhead having an axis coincident with that of the projectile, said charge being initiated by an igniter, said projectile being characterized in that the shaped charge generates a core and the igniter implements initiation during the trajectory of the shaped charge and at a given distance from the launch system, where said distance is selected to be adequate to protect the marksman from projectile explosion.
In one embodiment of the invention, the projectile is fitted with a detector for signals transmitted by the launch system to control the igniter.
In another embodiment of the invention, the igniter comprises a projectile launching sensor, a timer counting down the time interval from projectile launch and means to initiate the charge at the end of this time delay.
The timer may include a delayed pyrotechnic composition initiated by an igniter at launch.
The timer may include a mechanical or electronic fuse. Advantageously this fuse should be programmable.
In a variation of the invention, the projectile may be fitted with an altimeter to determine the slope of its axis relative to a direction of attack.
Another object of the invention is a weapon system to launch such a projectile and characterized in that it comprises a launch tube containing the projectile and a propellant charge, said tube being fitted with projectile aiming and launch means.
This weapon system may comprise means to program a projectile fuse.
The weapon system furthermore may comprise a rangefinder, a computer and a transmitter transmitting a command-to-ignite to the projectile in its trajectory.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3777665 (1973-12-01), Ziemba
patent: 4567829 (1986-02-01), Ziemba et al.
patent: 4649796 (1987-03-01), Schmidt
patent: 4693182 (1987-09-01), Winblad
patent: 5196644 (1993-03-01), Knight et al.
patent: 5366179 (1994-11-01), Manhalter
patent: 5841059 (1998-11-01), Laurend et al.
patent: 3048596 (1982-07-01), None
patent: 3149430 (1982-08-01), None
patent: 3821309 (1990-02-01), None
patent: 0661516 (1995-07-01), None

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