Patent Grant
10436558
The present invention pertains to the field of warhead design. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a warhead having regions of target-piercing fragments of different densities which upon detonation travel to a target at substantially the same speed so as to arrive at the target at substantially the same time.
Preformed fragment warheads consist of an array of fragments to be projected toward a target when the warhead explosive is initiated. Because of the symmetries of the warhead, the fragments closest to a single initiation point travel faster than the fragments further away from the initiation point. The velocity falls off with increasing distance from the warhead centerline in a parabolic or elliptical fashion according to the following estimate:
where V=fragment velocity; and
r=warhead radius.
The result is a distribution of fragment velocities along the warhead radius, with the fastest velocities being imparted to those fragments positioned at the warhead centerline and the slowest velocities being imparted to those fragments positioned the furthest radial distance away from the warhead centerline.
In the present invention, a preformed warhead includes a casing having a rear section and a forward section. An explosive charge is contained within the casing. The warhead includes a center region of fragments and a lateral region of fragments in lateral alignment with the center region of fragments. The casing contains an initiation point located at the rear section of the casing. A centerline extends through the initiation point and the center region of fragments. The center region of fragments contains a plurality of fragments and the lateral region of fragments contains a plurality of fragments. The plurality of fragments in the center region of fragments has a higher density than the plurality of fragments in the lateral region of fragments. The center region of fragments and the lateral region of fragments are both located at the forward section of said casing.
In a preferred embodiment, the density of a given fragment diminishes the further the given fragment is from the centerline.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.
With reference to
The respective fragments in the region of lateral fragments 24, 24′ are positioned a greater radial distance from the centerline 20 than are the respective fragments in the center region of fragments 22. (In
An initiating point 18 is located at the bottom section 12B of casing 12 on the centerline 20. The initiating point 18 is the origin point of detonation caused by activation of a fuse and detonator (not shown). Upon detonation, explosion waves 26 A, 26B, 26C (
In accordance with the present invention, the fragments in the center region 22 have a greater density than the fragments in the lateral region 24, 24′. That is to say that the fragments in the lateral region 24, 24′ are less dense than the fragments in the center region 22.
As can be appreciated from
By placing the fragments of higher density in the center region 22 and the less dense fragments in the lateral region 24, 24′, after detonation all of the fragments travel at substantially the same speed.
Preferably the fragments are arranged such that the density of a given fragment diminishes the further away from the centerline 20 a fragment is. Thus, the fragment 22A is more dense than fragment 22B. Fragment 22B is more dense than fragment 22C and fragment 22D is less dense than fragment 22C. Preferably, fragments 22A, 22B, 22C and 22D can be fragments arranged in a row or circle of like fragments.
Similarly in the lateral region 24, 24′, fragment 24A preferably has a greater density than fragment 24B and fragment 24B has a greater density than fragment 24C. Fragment 24C has a greater density than fragment 24D and fragment 24D has a greater density than fragment 24E. Fragment 24E has a greater density than fragment 24F. Preferably, fragments 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D, 24E, and 24F are arranged in a row or circle of like fragments. The fragments contained in the center region 22 would, for example, be made of dense materials such as tungsten, tantalum, molybdenum, etc., whereas the fragments in region 24, 24′ would be made of less dense materials, e.g., steel. Metal alloys and composite materials could be used in accordance with the present invention.
With reference to
By contrast, in
In many situations, a planar wave of fragments is desirable to maximize the probability of hitting a target. In the prior art, planar waves have been generated by the use of multiple initiation points or by a wave shaper in the explosive charge which flattens the explosive wave prior to reaching the fragments. In the present invention, a desired linear or planar profile of fragments can be achieved without the complexity of multiple initiation points or a wave shaper. The present invention achieves a minimum variance in the fragment velocities across the array of fragments resulting in a planar wave of fragments propagating toward the target of interest.
Modifications are possible without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is limited only by the claim language which follows hereafter.
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the U.S. Government for Governmental Purposes without payment of any royalties thereon.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1575716 | Pavek | May 1925 | A |
| 3796157 | Anderson | Mar 1974 | A |
| 4760793 | Herring, III | Aug 1988 | A |
| 5235916 | Winger | Aug 1993 | A |
