The field of invention relates generally to directional charges. More particularly, it pertains to a non-energetic modular directional charge system that contains components that can be assembled in different configurations depending on the target.
Current methods of entry and assault require a user to approach a target and manually breach/neutralize the target. This process places the user in an exposed position, which may result in injury/incapacitation, possibly limiting mission/objective success. Problems related to current directional charges that are known and available include their lack of customization based on a particular task, which often leads to unintended collateral damage. Additionally, directional charges are pre-assembled, requiring the user to carry energetic materials, which increases the chance on inadvertent initiation due to enemy combatant munitions.
Furthermore, new advances in unmanned systems that can be sent downrange to assault a target have, in some instances, eliminated the need for a user approaching the target and manually emplacing munitions to breach/neutralize the target. A directional charge that is designed for use with unmanned systems would allow for remotely placing a breaching charge or delivering an energetic payload where the user is protected from enemy combatant attack while clearing a door/wall or assaulting a barricaded enemy combatant.
Provided is a modular directional charge system that contains various components that can be assembled in different configurations depending on the target. The system includes a removable energetic material, a molded plastic shell comprising a main body and a front cover, a removable fragmentation insert, a removable breaching insert, an initiator well insert, one or more initiator adapter nuts, and an energetic material packing tool. The main body comprises an internal energetic material receiving compartment, a first and second tripod mount, a threaded adapter, and a pair of pin receivers, while the front cover comprises an internal removable insert compartment. The main body and front cover are held together with a multi-position adjustable toothed locking interface that adjustably permits the cover to intimately contact the energetic material when the internal removable insert compartment contains a fragmentation insert, a breaching insert, or no insert at all. A method of use is also provided. The method comprises: providing a removable energetic material, a molded plastic shell comprising a main body and a front cover, one or more removable inserts, an initiator well insert, an initiator insert, and one or more initiator adapter nuts, inserting said removable insert into the front cover; threading the initiator well insert into the plastic shell, cutting a length of the energetic material and inserting the energetic material into the main body; tightly packing the energetic material around the well insert and uniformly packing the energetic material with a C4 tool; affixing the front cover to the main body by compressing until firmly seated; selecting the adapter nut, removing the initiator well insert from the main body, inserting the initiator insert into the adapter nut, and threading the adapter nut onto the initiator well.
According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, it is an object of the invention to provide a directional charge system with a modular suite of energetic options that can be optimized to solve many of the situations encountered during a mission.
According to a further illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, it is an object of the invention to provide a directional charge system that allows the user to tailor the munition to the task, which can limit collateral damage.
According to a yet another illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, it is an object of the invention to provide a directional charge system that is transported in an inert manner to reduce the chance of inadvertent initiation due to enemy combatant munitions.
Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived.
The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:
The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention.
Generally, disclosed is a modular directional charge system that includes a removable energetic material, a molded plastic shell comprising a main body and a front cover, a removable fragmentation insert, a removable breaching insert, an initiator well insert, one or more initiator adapter nuts, and an energetic material packing tool. The main body comprises an internal energetic material receiving compartment, a first and second tripod mount, a threaded adapter, and a pair of pin receivers. The front cover comprises an internal removable insert compartment. The main body and front cover are held together with a multi-position adjustable toothed locking interface that adjustably permits the cover to intimately contact the energetic material and removable insert (if present).
The front cover 102 comprises an internal removable insert compartment 402 for receiving a plate 403, such as a rubber applique for breaching doors or walls, a steel plate that enhances fragmentation, and the like. The main body 101 and front cover 102 are held together with a multi-position adjustable toothed locking interface 404 that adjustably permits the front cover 102 to securely hold the plate 403 in intimate contact with the energetic material 404. The locking interface 404 enables the main body 101 and front cover 102 to be secured at varying positions, which increases or decreases the internal volume of the molded plastic shell 201 depending on the contents thereof.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/164,736, filed Mar. 23, 2021, entitled “Modular Scalable Effect Munition,” the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The invention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by employees of the Department of the Navy and may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the United States Government for any governmental purpose without payment of any royalties thereon. This invention (Navy Case 200635US02) is assigned to the United States Government and is available for licensing for commercial purposes. Licensing and technical inquiries may be directed to the Technology Transfer Office, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, email: Cran_CTO@navy.mil.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4213391 | Drimmer | Jul 1980 | A |
5036771 | Alford | Aug 1991 | A |
H1504 | Crabtree | Dec 1995 | H |
6298788 | Woods | Oct 2001 | B1 |
7000545 | Sansolo | Feb 2006 | B2 |
7299735 | Alford | Nov 2007 | B2 |
7337703 | Sansolo | Mar 2008 | B2 |
8037828 | Jakaboski | Oct 2011 | B1 |
10222182 | Cardoza | Mar 2019 | B1 |
10408589 | Chen | Sep 2019 | B1 |
20160216085 | Scheid | Jul 2016 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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3344601 | Oct 1988 | DE |
3344946 | Aug 2019 | EP |
Entry |
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Machine translation of EP-3344946-B1 (Year: 2019). |
Machine translation of DE-3344601-C2 (Year: 1988). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20220307807 A1 | Sep 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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63164736 | Mar 2021 | US |