Warhead

Abstract

Warhead (1) comprising a tubular structure with a front region (2), a rear region (3), an outer wall portion (4), an inner wall portion (5) and a central cavity (6), whereby the outer wall portion (4) comprises a multitude of pre-shaped first fracture elements (7) having a non-spherical shape and a multitude of non-cohesive pre-shaped second fracture elements (9) having a spheroidal shape.

Claims

1. A warhead comprising a tubular structure with a front region, a rear region, an outer wall portion, an inner wall portion and a central cavity, wherein the outer wall portion is provided with a multitude of pre-shaped first fracture elements having a non-spherical shape and a multitude of non-cohesive pre-shaped second fracture elements having a spheroidal shape, wherein a plurality of the multitude of pre-shaped first fracture elements are connected to each other to form a cohesive structure, wherein at least a part of the outer wall portion of the warhead does not contain any fracture elements, wherein the warhead further comprises a matrix in which the multitude of second fracture elements are embedded, wherein the warhead does not comprise any outer layer over the multitude of second fracture elements.

2. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the cohesive structure is a single layer provided with grooves that define the multitude of first fracture elements.

3. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the warhead further comprises a second matrix in which the multitude of first fracture elements are embedded.

4. The warhead according to claim 3, wherein the second matrix comprises at least one of a polymer and a reactive metal foam.

5. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the multitude of first fracture elements are also embedded in the matrix.

6. The warhead according to claim 5, wherein the matrix comprises at least one of a polymer and a reactive metal foam.

7. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises a polymer.

8. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the matrix comprises a reactive metal foam.

9. The warhead according to claim 8, wherein the reactive metal foam comprises at least one of aluminum and magnesium as a basic material.

10. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the cohesive structure of the multitude of first fracture elements is a mesh.

11. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the multitude of first fracture elements and the multitude second fracture elements are arranged in a single layer on the outer wall portion of the warhead.

12. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the multitude of first fracture elements comprise a different material than the multitude of second fracture elements.

13. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the multitude of first fracture elements are shaped at least partly as polyhedrons.

14. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the warhead is a hollow charge warhead.

15. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the multitude of first fracture elements are arranged in a single layer.

16. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the multitude of second fracture elements are arranged in a single layer.

17. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the tubular structure of the warhead comprises a discontinuity in an area of the outer wall portion of the warhead, wherein the discontinuity runs radially relative to the tubular structure of the warhead, and wherein the multitude of first fracture elements and the multitude of second fracture elements are contained in the discontinuity in the area of the outer wall portion of the warhead.

18. The warhead according to claim 17, wherein the discontinuity in the area of the outer wall portion of the warhead containing the multitude of first fracture elements and the multitude of second fracture elements comprises a hollow generally cylindrical portion and a hollow generally conical portion.

19. The warhead according to claim 1, wherein the warhead does not comprise any outer layer over the multitude of first fracture elements.

Description

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Several embodiments of the invention will be described in the following by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the warhead according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a schematical view of an embodiment of the warhead according to the invention;

(4) FIGS. 3a to 3c illustrate a schematical view of the cross-section of the wall of the tabular structure of several embodiments of the warhead according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a schematical perspective view of another arrangement of the first and seconds fracture elements over the wall of the tabular structure of the warhead.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the warhead 1 comprising a tubular structure with a front region 2, a rear region 3 and an outer wall portion 4. The outer wall portion 4 is partially provided with a multitude of pre-shaped first fracture elements 7 having a cuboid shape and a multitude of non-cohesive pre-shaped second fracture elements 9 having a spheroidal shape. The multitude of the first fracture elements 7 is in the form of a cohesive structure. The cohesive structure is formed as a single layer comprising several grooves provided in the layer and so forming the multitude of the single first fracture elements 7. The multitude of the second fracture elements 9 having a spheroidal shape are provided between the single first fracture elements 7, i.e. in the grooves of the layer.

(7) The embodiment of the warhead 1 according to the FIG. 1 is further comprising a discontinuity 11 running radials to the tubular structure of the warhead 1 and having a form of a bend. This discontinuity is formed by the generally cylindrical portion 12 of the outer wall portion 4 and by the generally conical portion 13 of the outer wall portion 4, whereby the conical portion 13 is arranged adjoining the cylindrical portion 12.

(8) FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the warhead 1 comprising a tubular structure with a front region 2, a rear region 3, an outer wall portion 4, an inner wall portion 5 and a central cavity 6. The outer wall portion 4 is provided with a multitude of first fracture elements 7 and the second fracture elements 9 being provided between the first fracture elements 9.

(9) FIG. 3a illustrates a cross-section of the wall of the tubular structure being provided with a multitude of the first fracture elements 7 and a multitude of the second fracture elements 9. The multitude of the first fracture elements 7 is in the form of a cohesive structure. The cohesive structure is formed as a single layer comprising grooves provided in the layer and so forming the multitude of the single first fracture elements 7. The cohesive structure has a maximal thickness D.sub.max in the region of the single fracture elements and has a minimal thickness D.sub.min in the region of the grooves. The multitude of the second fracture elements 9 are provided over the first fracture elements 7 and are embedded in a second matrix 8, being provided over the first fracture elements 7.

(10) FIG. 3b illustrates a cross-section of the wall of the tubular structure being provided with a multitude of the first fracture elements 7 and a multitude of the second fracture elements 9. The multitude of the first fracture elements 7 consist of plurality of single elements with a non-spherical form and a maximal thickness D.sub.max, which are connected with each other by means of single cross-braces 14 to form a cohesive structure. The multitude of the second fracture elements 9 are provided over the first fracture elements 7. The first fracture elements 7 and the second fracture elements 9 are embedded in a single matrix 15.

(11) FIG. 3c illustrates a cross-section of the wall of the tubular structure being provided with a multitude of the first fracture elements 7 and a multitude of the second fracture elements 9. The multitude of the first fracture elements 7 consist of plurality of single elements with a non-spherical form and a maximal thickness D.sub.max, which are connected with each other by means of single cross-braces 14 to form a cohesive structure. The multitude of the first fracture elements 7 are embedded in a first matrix 10. The multitude of the second fracture elements 9 are provided over the first fracture elements 7. The second fracture elements 9 are embedded in a second matrix 8 consisting of material being different to the material of the first matrix 10.

(12) FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the wall of the tubular structure being provided with a multitude of first fracture elements 7 and second fracture elements 9. The multitude of first fracture elements 7 consists of a plurality of cubical-shaped elements. The multitude of the second fracture elements 9 consists of a plurality of spherical elements. The first and seconds elements are arranged in a single plane of the outer wall portion of the tubular structure of the warhead, and are embedded in a single matrix 15.

(13) Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that fall within the scope of the appended claims.

(14) It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable subcombination or as suitable in any other described embodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the context of various embodiments are not to be considered essential features of those embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without those elements.