A shaped charge is an explosive charge shaped to focus the effect of the explosive's energy. Various types of shaped charges can cut and form metal, penetrate armor, and remove earth for the oil and gas industry. The basic components of a shaped charge are the case (or enclosure), the explosive material, and the liner. In military applications, many shaped charges come in kits with enclosures of various sizes (small, medium, large), shapes (rectangular box-like or cylindrical), and materials (metal or plastic). For example, a kit may have 8 small, 5 medium, and 2 large shaped charges. Some common models are the linear shaped charge, which has a rectangular prism shape enclosure, and the explosively formed projective (EFP), which has a cylindrical shape enclosure. These are typically formed from rigid injection molded plastic or formed metal.
These kits and enclosures present several challenges for operators in austere environments such as in military operations where one is limited by the equipment on hand and at times unreliable supply chains. One challenge is that the enclosures are a one-time use. Once the shaped charge is detonated, the enclosure disintegrates. This can bring about scenarios where a desired size in a kit might run out, thereby forcing an operator to open up another kit, if available (at a potential cost of thousands of dollars) and/or to try to make due with any remaining shaped charges (which may not be ideal for a particular task at hand). Such scenarios can thus place military personnel in a compromised position. Another challenge with conventional enclosures is that larger models can be relatively heavy (on the order of kilograms), thereby placing an added burden on the operator (who may be required to transport it on foot over large distances). It is with respect to these and other considerations that the various implementations described below are presented.
Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a device. In some implementations, a device includes a housing sheet that is configurable to form at least part of a shaped charge enclosure. The shaped charge enclosure encloses a shaped charge. The device is formed to bias an explosion in a desired direction. The housing sheet includes one or more incisions in at least one surface thereof. The housing sheet has at least one connection mechanism integrally formed therein. The housing sheet is configurable to form a plurality of sizes of shaped charge housing portions and provides for forming a plurality of dimensions of the shaped charge enclosure.
Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a shaped charge system. In some implementations, the shaped charge system includes the device described above and also an explosive disposed inside the enclosure of the shaped charge. The system also includes a shaped charge liner coupled to at least one shaped charge housing sheet.
Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a method of assembling a shaped charge enclosure. In some implementations, the method includes manipulating a shaped charge housing sheet to form an enclosure. The method also includes coupling a shaped charge liner to the housing sheet, inserting an explosive into the enclosure, and sealing the enclosure.
Other aspects and features according to the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewing the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale.
In some aspects, the present disclosure relates to shaped charge devices, systems, and related methods of use. Although example implementations of the present disclosure are explained in detail herein, it is to be understood that other implementations are contemplated. Accordingly, it is not intended that the present disclosure be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other implementations and of being practiced or carried out in various ways.
It must also be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Certain values may be expressed in terms of ranges “from” one value “to” another value. When a range is expressed in terms of “from” a particular lower value “to” a particular higher value, or “from” a particular higher value “to” a particular lower value, the range includes the particular lower value and the particular higher value.
By “comprising” or “containing” or “including” is meant that at least the named compound, element, particle, or method step is present in the composition or article or method, but does not exclude the presence of other compounds, materials, particles, method steps, even if the other such compounds, material, particles, method steps have the same function as what is named.
In describing example implementations, terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is intended that each term contemplates its broadest meaning as understood by those skilled in the art and includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. It is also to be understood that the mention of one or more steps of a method does not preclude the presence of additional method steps or intervening method steps between those steps expressly identified. Steps of a method may be performed in a different order than those described herein without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Similarly, it is also to be understood that the mention of one or more components in a device or system does not preclude the presence of additional components or intervening components between those components expressly identified.
Some aspects of the present disclosure relate to a shaped charge enclosure system. In some implementations, the shaped charge enclosure system is configurable to form shaped charged enclosures having a plurality of shapes and sizes. The shaped charge enclosure can be formed from a housing sheet which can be bent into an enclosure. The shaped charge enclosure can also be formed from a housing sheet which is separable into separate components to be reassembled into an enclosure, allowing a user of a shaped charge to carry a single housing sheet to form a plurality of enclosure sizes to fit a desired shape or size shaped charge application. Accordingly, devices and/or systems according to some implementations can eliminate wasted components in shaped charge enclosure kits.
Among other benefits and advantages, the present disclosure in some implementations presents a rapidly customizable enclosure that enables an operator to select the size and shape from specially perforated sheet materials. For example, a single sheet may contain enough material to make one large shaped charge; however, this same material may be used to assemble two medium or four small shaped charges or combinations thereof. Thus, the specially perforated sheets enable a wider set of enclosure size, shape, and material combinations that can be selected as needed.
A detailed description of certain aspects of the present disclosure, in accordance with various example implementations, will now be provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings form a part hereof and show, by way of illustration, specific implementations and examples. In referring to the drawings, like numerals represent like elements throughout the several figures.
The housing sheet 102 includes corrugation flutes 106 as shown in
As shown in
Although in the implementation shown in
As shown, the shaped charge liner 104 is a concave plate, which is formed to deform into a projectile upon detonation of the shaped charge. In the implementation shown in
The joinery 110 is a rod having a plurality of pairs of connection tabs 110a disposed along a length of the joinery 110. The pairs of connection tabs 110a form a 160-degree angle with respect to each other. The connection tabs 110a each have locking surfaces (not shown) that protrude perpendicular to the direction the tab extends. The locking surfaces are configured to engage with the locking notches 109 in the first surface 103 of the housing sheet 102. According to the implementation of
Although the implementations described above use locking notches 109 to secure the housing sheet 102 in a desired shape, in other implementations, the connection tabs are sized to form a friction fit that holds the housing sheet 102 in a desired shape. Although the pairs of connection tabs are disposed at a 160-degree angle with respect to each other as shown in
The lid 107 is a disk-shaped plate which has fastening mechanisms disposed therein. The fastening mechanism in the implementations shown in
The system 100 as shown in
As shown in the implementations of
As shown in
The first side 702a and the second side 702b each have two L-shaped hooks 714 extending therefrom. The hooks 714 are spaced apart along the first end 706a and the second end 706b of the of the first section 706. The hooks 714 each extend outward and away from the rest of the first section and curve toward the plane of the second end 706b of the first section 706. The third end 706c and the fourth end 706d each have four L-shaped side hooks 715 extending therefrom. The side hooks 715 are spaced apart along the third end 706c and the fourth end 706d of the of the first section 706. The hooks 714 each extend outward and away from the rest of the first section 706 and curve toward the center line 706e of the first section 706. The second section 708 includes has a first side 708, a second side 708b opposite and spaced apart from the first side 708a, a third side 708c, and a fourth side 708d which is opposite and spaced apart from the third side 708c. The second section 708 also has a center line 708e, which is perforated. The second section 708 has a plurality of hook slots 716, which extend between the first side and the second side of the second section 708. The second section 708 has eight hook slots 716. Four hook slots 716 on either side of the center line 708e which are adjacent to each other and are spaced apart between the first side 708a and the second side 708b of the second section 708. The second section also has eight hook notches 718. Four hook notches 718 are on the first side 708a of the second section 708 and four hook notches 718 are on the second side of the second section 708. The hook notches 718 are aligned along the same perpendicular axis along the center line as the hook slots 716 with respect to the center line 708e. The housing sheet 702 can have a length between 1-100 inches, width between 1-100 inches, and/or a thickness between 0.005-1 inch, or any other length, width, and/or thickness suitable to direct an explosive in a desired direction. In the implementation shown in
The lid 717 is a rectangular sheet having a first end 717a and a second end 717b, a first surface 717c and a second surface 717d, and two sets of four adjacent hook slots 717e. Each set of four adjacent hook slots 717e are disposed at opposite ends of the length of the rectangle. Each of the hook slots 717e is configured to receive one of the hooks 714 extending from the third end 706c of the first section or the fourth end 706e of the first section. The lid 717 can have a length between 1-100 inches, a width between 1-100 inches, and/or a thickness between 0.005-1 inch, or any other length, width, and thickness suitable to direct an explosive in a desired direction. In the implementation shown in
The system 700 includes support tabs 722 which are disposed into slots on the first section 706 of the housing sheet 702. The support tabs 722 extend into the enclosure and support the weight of a shaped charge liner 704 such that the shaped charge liner 704 securely sits on the support tabs 722 before the system 700 is detonated.
When assembled, the first section 706 of the housing sheet 702 is separated in half along the center line 706e. The second section 708 is also separated in half along the center line 708e. The first end 706a and the second end 706b of the first section 706 are aligned such that the first end 706a and the second end 706b of the first section 706 are co-planar and parallel. The two halves of the second section 708 are each aligned such that one hook 714 on the first end 706a and the second end 706b, of each half of the first section 706 is coupled to a corresponding hook slot 716. A second hook on the third end 706c of each half of the first section is coupled to the notch 718 that the first hook slot 716 is aligned with. When each of the hooks 714, side hooks 715 and hook slots 716 are coupled together, the housing sheet 702 forms a square enclosure. The two halves of the second section 708 are locked into place by locking tabs which are inserted in the locking notches 720 of the first section. The lid 717 is coupled to the hooks 714 on the third end 706c and the fourth end 706d of the first section 706 and locked into place by the hooks 714.
In some implementations, a portion of the first section 704 and the second section 706 which is disposed to either side of their respective center lines 706e, 708e forms a stand 724 when the system is assembled. The stand 724 is removable to reduce the size of the base of the system 700 for a desired application requiring a system 700 having no stand 724. In some implementations, the stand is adjustable to accommodate forming a base having a plurality of sizing options when the system 700 is assembled.
Although a cuboid enclosure is shown, in some implementations (not shown) the housing sheet 702 can be used to form a triangular enclosure, square cube enclosure, or an enclosure having any other shape that is suitable to direct an explosion in a desired direction. Although the housing sheet 702 shown in
The various implementations described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The patentable scope of certain implementations of the present disclosure is indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.
This application claims priority to, and benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/883,874, filed Aug. 7, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62883874 | Aug 2019 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 16987933 | Aug 2020 | US |
Child | 18316616 | US |