U.S. patent number 3,722,414 [Application Number 04/520,836] was granted by the patent office on 1973-03-27 for high velocity flight stabilized fragmentation device.
This patent grant is currently assigned to The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy. Invention is credited to James C. Talley.
United States Patent |
3,722,414 |
Talley |
March 27, 1973 |
HIGH VELOCITY FLIGHT STABILIZED FRAGMENTATION DEVICE
Abstract
There is disclosed an explosive controlled fragmentation device
for obtaig high velocity attitude controlled projection of a
plurality of darts. This is accomplished by controlling the
thickness of the explosive adjacent the darts so as to obtain the
impulse necessary to turn the darts into a blunt-end forward flight
attitude.
Inventors: |
Talley; James C. (Dahlgren,
VA) |
Assignee: |
The United States of America as
represented by the Secretary of the Navy (N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
24074277 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/520,836 |
Filed: |
January 13, 1966 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/495;
102/703 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B
12/32 (20130101); Y10S 102/703 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F42B
12/32 (20060101); F42B 12/02 (20060101); F42b
013/48 (); F42b 023/12 (); F42b 025/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;102/56,64,67,68,89
;85/10 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Pendegrass; Verlin R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An explosive fragmentation device comprising
a uniformly tapered explosive charge having a generally cylindrical
configuration with a maximum thickness adjacent the longitudinal
center thereof;
a plurality of fragmentation pieces disposed adjacent said charge,
said pieces having a varying thickness in cross-section, said
pieces being arranged such that the thickest portion thereof is
disposed adjacent to the substantially thickest portion of said
charge;
said fragmentation pieces being dart-shaped and closely packed
together with their thick ends adjacent the longitudinal center of
said explosive charge and whereby upon detonation of said charge,
said pieces are caused to turn into a thick end forward flight
attitude.
2. An explosive fragmentation device in accordance with claim 1
wherein:
said explosive charge tapers uniformly to a minimum thickness
adjacent the ends thereof; and
said dart-shaped pieces taper uniformly to a minimum thickness at
their tail ends adjacent the ends of said charge.
3. An explosive fragmentation device in accordance with claim 2
wherein:
said dart-shaped pieces are disposed in pairs around the periphery
of said explosive charge with the thick end of one of the darts in
a pair being adjacent the thick end of the other of the darts in a
pair.
Description
The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or
for the Government of the United States of America for governmental
purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or
therefor.
The present invention relates to ordnance equipment, and more
particularly to an explosive fragmentation device wherein the
attitude of the projected fragmentation material may be
controlled.
Those concerned with the development of fragmentation explosive
devices such as anti-aircraft missile and projectile warheads, drop
bomb warheads, land mines, etc., have long recognized the need for
controlling the pattern, velocity and attitude of the fragmentation
material projected therefrom since the lethality of such controlled
fragmentation material has been found to greatly exceed that of the
conventional, randomly projected, fragmentation devices. In a
conventional explosive, the fragmentation or shrapnel pieces are of
irregular shape and are projected in a random manner. Although such
conventional devices have served the purpose, they have not proven
entirely satisfactory under all conditions of use. On the other
hand, if the fragmentation or shrapnel pieces are of
aerodynamically stable design and are projected in a predetermined
pattern, the effective "kill" ability thereof may be greatly
enhanced.
The general purpose of this invention, therefore, is to provide an
explosive fragmentation device which embraces all of the advantages
of similarly employed conventional explosive devices and possesses
none of the aforedescribed disadvantages. To attain this, the
present invention utilizes a specifically configured fragmentation
material in conjunction with a specifically designed explosive
charge.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an
explosive device which, upon detonation, forms a predetermined
fragmentation pattern of high velocity.
Another object is to provide a method of forming an explosive
fragmentation device in which the attitude and velocity of the
projected fragmentation or shrapnel pieces may be controlled.
A further object of the invention is the provision of an explosive
fragmentation device wherein the attitude of the projected
fragments may be controlled so as to maximize the depth that the
fragments penetrate a target.
Still another object is to control the fragmentation acceleration
and flight attitude of an explosive device through precise local
control of the detonation process.
A still further object is to provide an explosive fragmentation
device which is characterized by simplicity of construction, low
cost, and ease of operation and use.
Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this
invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better
understood by reference to the following detailed description when
considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIG. 1 is an elevation view, partly in section, of a preferred
embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the device taken on the lines 2 -- 2 of
FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows; and
FIG. 3 is a side view taken on the lines 3 -- 3 of FIG. 1 looking
in the direction of the arrows.
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters
designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,
there is shown in FIG. 1, which illustrates a preferred embodiment
of the invention, an explosive fragmentation device generally
indicated by reference character 10 comprised of an annular
explosive charge 12 having a plurality of double wedge dart-shaped
fragmentation pieces 14 secured around the cylindrical periphery
thereof. A pair of flat end pieces 16 and a central hub 18, which
may house a detonator, complete the assembly and form a generally
cylindrical explosive device. The darts 14 may be secured to the
explosive charge 12 by any conventional means, such as an epoxy
cement or a snap ring secured to end pieces 16 and folded over the
tapered tail end of the darts 14.
The high explosive charge 12 is adjusted in thickness so as to
provide precise control of the attitude and velocity of the
projected darts 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the explosive
charge 12 has a maximum thickness at the longitudinal center of the
cylinder adjacent the blunt ends 15 of the darts 14 and tapers to a
minimum thickness adjacent the tail ends 17 of the darts 14.
Therefore, the thickness of the charge 12 is controlled so as to
attain the impulse distribution necessary to turn the darts into a
blunt end forward attitude when projected. The flight of the darts
as they are projected from the explosive device 10 is illustrated
by reference characters 14', 14", 14'", and 14"". In other words,
as the explosive charge 12 is detonated, the impulse generated is
greatest adjacent the thickest portions thereof. Accordingly, the
blunt ends 15 of the darts 14 situated adjacent the thickest
portion of the charge 12 will be projected with slightly greater
force than the tail ends 17 of said darts. Therefore, as the darts
are projected from the charge 12, they are caused to turn about
their axes into a blunt end forward attitude so as to fly stabily
in radial trajectories about the cylindrical axis of the charge 12.
The darts 14 will, therefore, strike end-on thereby maximizing
penetration by maximizing the momentum per unit contact area. The
exact control of flight for a particular configuration and attitude
is obtained through proper distribution of explosive thickness and
dart mass.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the darts 14 are packed on
their edges adjacent one another so as to provide close packing and
mutual support during the initial high pressure phase of the
detonation, thereby preventing permanent deformation or break-up of
the darts. In addition to the precise distribution of explosive
thickness to dart mass, the initial flight of the darts 14 through
the high velocity detonation products assists in reducing the high
angular velocity necessary to turn the darts in the short time
available, thereby reducing over-shoot and possible tumbling.
Obviously many modifications and variations of the present
invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. For
example, the basic idea is adaptable to a wide variety of sizes,
ranging from bomblets to large warheads. Pattern size or angle of
divergence of the trajectories shown in FIG. 1 may also be achieved
through the use of barrel or spool-shaped explosive charges or by
control of the explosive thickness in the cylindrical shape. Sizes
and materials of the darts 14 may be selected to suit the intended
targets while multi-point timed initiation may be used to control
wave shapes and impulse distribution. It is, therefore, to be
understood that within the scope of the appended claims the
invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described.
* * * * *