Electromagnetic Grenade

Abstract

The Electromagnetic Grenade is a destructive device used to disable Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV). The Electromagnetic Grenade is a purpose-built shell/round that utilizes an explosively pumped flux compression generator to create an electromagnetic pulse destructive enough to disable or destroy UGVs and similar military equipment which employ electricity as energy for onboard systems. The electromagnetic grenade includes a standard shell casing with primer, a power source, capacitor bank, a solenoid, and a standard fuse. The casing and size of the shell can be changed to suit the weapon system that will employ the Electromagnetic Grenade. The design can be scaled to work with smaller and larger ordinance which will include small arms, artillery shells, bombs, missiles, rockets, sub-munitions, loitering munitions and similar.

Description

The Electromagnetic Grenade is a destructive device used to disable Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV).

The Electromagnetic Grenade is a purpose-built shell/round that utilizes an explosively pumped flux compression generator to create an electromagnetic pulse destructive enough to disable or destroy UGVs and similar military equipment which employ electricity as energy for onboard systems. The electromagnetic grenade includes a standard shell casing with primer, a power source, capacitor bank, a solenoid, and a standard fuse. The casing and size of the shell can be changed to suit the weapon system that will employ the Electromagnetic Grenade. The Electromagnetic Grenade in this USPTO application is designed on a standard 40 mm cartridge case but the design can be scaled to work with smaller and larger ordinance which will include small arms, artillery shells, bombs, missiles, rockets, sub-munitions, loitering munitions and similar. The design can also work with guided and unguided ordinance. The Electromagnetic Grenade relies on a power source to store enough charge that when the conditions of the standard fuse are met, the power source charges the capacitor bank, and the capacitor bank charges the highly conductive solenoid. Once the solenoid is charged and has a flow of electrons, the explosive charge detonates, showering the targeted equipment with an electromagnetic pulse that damages or disables UGVs and similar electrical equipment. This design is meant to be used with a variety of fuses such as impact fuses, air burst fuses, proximity fuses and even fuses designed for target penetration. The design of the Electromagnetic Grenade is independent of the type of power source and capacitors used, as future advancement will naturally allow for greater optimization and ruggedization of the original design. Tuning of the electromagnetic frequency is also possible if an internally reflective ogive is used for the shell. Tuning to a specific frequency may increase the shells' effectiveness against more specific targets. Using multiple shells tuned to different frequencies may increase effectiveness against multiple and different hardened targets within a single location. Recent advancements in nanomaterials may provide future shells with an ogive that can generate a larger charge with the energy supplied by friction as the shell travels through an atmosphere. This device is independent of advances in materials which can increase or alter its performance.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The submitted drawing consists of three figures. FIG. 1: Concept of Device, is a simplified diagram of the device showing the arrangement of components. FIG. 1A: Construction of Shell, depicts a 1:1 Scale diagram showing the relative size of the components as well as their arrangement within the standard 40 mm grenade shell. FIG. 1B: shows the Exterior of Shell.

Claims

1. This grenade/shell design uses an explosively pumped flux compression generator to create an electromagnetic wave strong enough to disable or destroy onboard electrical systems of Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGV).