PROJECTILE-PROPELLING EXPLOSIVE STRUCTURE

Abstract

A deployable, linear explosive structure includes a split tube, an explosive coupled to the split tube, and a fragmentable or non-fragmentable projectile disposed with respect to the explosive. The split tube can be rolled into a non-deployed state in which the split tube has a flat, rolled profile. The split tube also can be deployed from the non-deployed state to a deployed state in which the split tube is extended along its length and has a curved cross-section along its length. The split tube provides support of the explosive structure in the deployed state. The split tube also provides smaller storage and transportation volume for the explosive structure when rolled in the non-deployed state.

Description

Claims

1. An explosive structure, comprising: a split tube having a length, the split tube being rollable into a roll in an undeployed state and deployable into a straight form along its length in a deployed state;an explosive coupled to at least a portion of the length of the split tube; anda projectile disposed relative to the explosive.

2. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the projectile is disposed relative to the explosive by being disposed adjacent to the explosive.

3. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein projectile is disposed relative to the explosive by being disposed on a side of the split tube that is opposite to the side on which the explosive is coupled.

4. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the projectile is disposed relative to the explosive by being suspended inside the split tube without contacting the explosive.

5. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the projectile is fragmentable.

6. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the projectile comprises chain, metallic band, sprung metal, metal pipe, metal tubing, steel shrapnel, wire cable, wire mesh, wire weave, weaved metal cable, sheet metal, metal rods, high-density non-metallic material, ball shot, .

7. The explosive structure according to claim 1, further comprising a nose cone coupled to one end of the split tube.

8. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the split tube comprises two sections, the explosive structure further comprising a connector that couples the two sections of split tube together.

9. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the split tube comprises a bistable structural tape comprising an undeployed state and a deployed state, the structural tape having a rolled, flat transverse profile in the undeployed state, and the structural tape having a linear, curved transverse profile in the deployed state.

10. The explosive structure according to claim 9, the structural tape further being stable in the undeployed state and in the deployed state and being unstable when between states such that transitioning one end of the tape from the rolled shape to the linear shape places the tape in an unstable state causing the tape to self-deploy to the deployed state.

11. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the split tube is a metallic tape.

12. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the explosive structure can be compacted into the undeployed state of the split tube and extended into the deployed state 100c of the split tube.

13. The explosive structure according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive that couples the explosive to the split tube.

14. The explosive structure according to claim 13, wherein the adhesive is an adhesive tape, a two-sided adhesive tape, or a spray adhesive.

15. The explosive structure according to claim 1, further comprising an adhesive member coupled to the explosive structure to connect the explosive structure to another structure.

16. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the explosive comprises a cord explosive.

17. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the explosive comprises a sheet explosive.

18. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the explosive is disposed on a convex side of the split tube when the split tube is in the deployed state.

19. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein the explosive is disposed on a concave side of the split tube when the split tube is in the deployed state.

20. The explosive structure according to claim 1, wherein a rolled profile of the split tube in the undeployed state comprises a serpentine or a folded configuration.

21. A method to support an explosive and a projectile along a linear structure for transportation and deployment, comprising: providing a bistable, self-deployable structural tape in an undeployed state, the structural tape comprising the undeployed state and a deployed state, the structural tape having a rolled, flat transverse profile in the undeployed state, and the structural tape having a linear, curved transverse profile in the deployed state, the structural tape being stable in the undeployed state and in the deployed state and being unstable when between states such that transitioning one end of the tape from the rolled shape to the linear shape places the tape in an unstable state causing the tape to self-deploy to the deployed state;deploying the structural tape into the deployed state;disposing an explosive lengthwise along the deployed structural tape; anddisposing a projectile lengthwise along the deployed structural tape and relative to the explosive.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising rolling the structural tape, the explosive, and the projectile into the undeployed state of structural tape.