Electromagnetic mobile active system

Abstract

An electromagnetic mobile active system for fitting in a missile with a detonation-operated magnetic field compressor. The magnetic field compressor has at least one stator coil and at least one armature casing, which is at least partially surrounded by the stator coil and kept at a radial distance. The magnetic field compressor has at least one explosive charge embedded in the armature casing. The magnetic field compressor has at least one power source. For activating the detonation of the explosive charge, a trigger system is provided. The trigger system can be controlled by a pulse of current from the power source, depending on a signal supplied by the missile. A great amount of electrical energy can be generated in the stator coil by the detonation. For the directional radiation of the electrical energy generated by the detonation of the explosive charge, the active system has at least one directional antenna.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic mobile active system for fitting in a missile, the system comprising: a detonation-operated magnetic field compressor comprising: at least one stator coil; at least one armature casing, which is at least partially surrounded by the stator coil and is spaced a radial distance from it; and at least one explosive charge, which is embedded in the armature casing; at least one power source; a trigger system for detonation of the explosive charge, the trigger system being controllable by a pulse of current from the power source, depending on a distance signal corresponding to a distance between the missile and a target; and at least one directional antenna for directional radiation of electrical energy generated within the stator coil due to a rapid change of a magnetic field build up in the stator coil caused by the detonation of the explosive charge, wherein the stator coil has a high ductility to maintain mechanical integrity of the stator coil for as long as possible during the detonation of the explosive charge and subsequent expansion.

2. The active system according to claim 1, wherein: the stator coil comprises at least one winding; the stator coil comprises copper, gold, aluminum, or another material that has a high electrical conductivity and mechanical properties to preserve current conduction between the stator coil and the armature casing for as long as possible during the detonation; and/or the armature casing comprises depressions, notches, or other structure for controlled disintegration of the armature casing.

3. The active system according to claim 1, wherein the stator coil comprises a single-layer or multi-layer winding and a spacing of the windings of the stator coil increases at least partially in a direction of a front of the active system.

4. The active system according to claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a Marx generator, capacitor banks, a dielectric generator, and/or a ferroelectric generator.

5. The active system according to claim 1, wherein the explosive charge comprises a detonator and has an explosive mixture on a basis of HMX, TKX-50, CL-20, RDX, FOX-7, TATB, PETN, and/or TNT with a high detonation velocity.

6. The active system according to claim 1, comprising at least one switching device designed to transmit electrical energy generated by the detonation in the stator coil to the directional antenna.

7. The active system according to claim 1, wherein the distance signal can be activated based on a predetermined distance of the active system from the target.

8. The active system according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined distance between the active system and the target is between 5 and 100 meters.

9. The active system according to claim 1, comprising at least one deployment device designed to deliver an electromagnetic pulse generated by the detonation of the explosive charge into a target directly or over distances of up to 5 meters by conducting contact or spark discharge.

10. The active system according to claim 1: wherein the explosive charge is arranged in a form of a hollow charge and/or configured to generate a blasting effect and/or a fragmenting effect; and/or the active system comprising an electrically insulated casing comprising a magnetized and/or magnetizable material.

11. An active system arrangement having at least two active systems according to claim 1, wherein effects of the at least two active systems can be instigated simultaneously for a cumulative effect or can be triggered shortly one after another for a multiple effect.

12. A missile having at least one active system according to claim 1.

13. A method for generating a scalable electromagnetic effect at a target, the method comprising: providing an electromagnetic mobile active system for fitting in a missile, the electromagnetic mobile active system comprising: a detonation-operated magnetic field compressor comprising: at least one stator coil; at least one armature casing, which is at least partially surrounded by the stator coil and is spaced a radial distance from it; and at least one explosive charge, which is embedded in the armature casing; at least one power source; a trigger system for detonation of the explosive charge, the trigger system being controllable by a pulse of current from the power source, depending on a distance signal corresponding to a distance between the missile and the target; and at least one directional antenna for directional radiation of electrical energy generated within the stator coil due to a rapid change of a magnetic field build up in the stator coil caused by the detonation of the explosive charge, wherein the stator coil has a high ductility to maintain mechanical integrity of the stator coil for as long as possible during the detonation of the explosive charge; and triggering the trigger system using the power source; detonating the at least one explosive charge based on a predetermined distance of the active system from the target; and generating an electromagnetic effect from detonating the at least one explosive charge; wherein an amount of the at least one explosive charge detonated is preselected based on the target to be hit.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising subsequently firing a volley of shots by at least one anti-tank missile and/or multi-role missile.

15. An electromagnetic mobile active system for fitting in a missile, the system comprising: a detonation-operated magnetic field compressor comprising: at least one stator coil; at least one armature casing, which is at least partially surrounded by the stator coil and is spaced a radial distance from it; and at least one explosive charge, which is embedded in the armature casing, wherein the explosive charge is arranged in a form of a hollow charge and/or configured to generate a blasting effect and/or a fragmenting effect; at least one power source; a trigger system for detonation of the explosive charge, the trigger system being controllable by a pulse of current from the power source, depending on a distance signal corresponding to a distance between the missile and a target; at least one directional antenna for directional radiation of electrical energy generated by the detonation of the explosive charge; and an electrically insulated casing comprising a magnetized and/or magnetizable material.

16. The active system according to claim 15, wherein the stator coil has a high ductility to maintain mechanical integrity of the stator coil for as long as possible during the detonation of the explosive charge and subsequent expansion.

17. The active system according to claim 15, wherein the distance signal is activated based on a predetermined distance of the active system from a target.

18. The active system according to claim 15, wherein: the stator coil comprises at least one winding; the stator coil comprises copper, gold, aluminum or another material that has a high electrical conductivity and mechanical properties to preserve current conduction between the stator coil and the armature casing for as long as possible during the detonation; and/or the armature casing comprises depressions, notches, or other structure for controlled disintegration of the armature casing.

19. The active system according to claim 15, wherein the stator coil comprises a single-layer or multi-layer winding and a spacing of the windings of the stator coil increases at least partially in a direction of a front of the active system.

20. The active system according to claim 15, comprising at least one switching device designed to transmit electrical energy generated by the detonation in the stator coil to the directional antenna.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings, generally the same reference signs refer to the same parts throughout the various views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale; instead, generally importance is attached to illustrating the principles of the disclosure herein. In the following description, various embodiments of the disclosure herein are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the electromagnetic active system;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further more detailed embodiment of the electromagnetic active system;

(4) FIG. 3 schematically shows the effect of an embodiment of the electromagnetic active system on a target;

(5) FIG. 4 schematically shows a plot of the effect in the area affected by an electromagnetic active system; and

(6) FIG. 5 schematically shows a flow diagram of a method for making a generated electromagnetic effect scalable at the target.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) The following detailed description makes reference to the accompanying drawings, which show specific details for explanation and embodiments in which the disclosure herein can be put into practice.

(8) The word exemplary is used herein with the meaning serving as an example, case or illustration. Any embodiment or configuration described herein as exemplary should not necessarily be interpreted as preferred or advantageous vis--vis other embodiments or configurations.

(9) In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this description and show for illustration purposes specific embodiments in which the disclosure herein can be implemented. It goes without saying that other embodiments can be used and structural or logical changes can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the present disclosure. It goes without saying that the features of the various exemplary embodiments described herein can be combined with one another, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Therefore, the following detailed description should not be interpreted in a restrictive sense, and the scope of protection of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims.

(10) In the context of this description, the terms connected, and coupled are used to describe both a direct and an indirect connection and a direct or indirect coupling. In the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference signs, insofar as this is expedient.

(11) In the methods described here, the steps can be performed in virtually any desired order without departing from the principles of the disclosure herein, unless a temporal or functional sequence is expressly set out. If it is set out in a patent claim that first one step is performed and then a number of other steps are performed one after the other, this should be understood as meaning that the first step is carried out before all other steps, but the other steps can be carried out in any desired suitable order, unless a sequence is given within the other steps. Parts of claims in which for example step A, step B, step C, step D and step E are presented should be understood as meaning that step A is performed first, step E is performed last and steps B, C and D can be performed in any desired order between steps A and E, and that the sequence falls within the formulated scope of protection of the claimed method. Furthermore, specified steps can be performed simultaneously, unless express wording in the claim specifies that they are to be performed separately. By way of example, a step for performing X in the claim and a step for performing Y in the claim can be carried out simultaneously within a single procedure, and the resultant process falls within the worded scope of protection of the claimed method.

(12) In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of the electromagnetic active system 100 is shown. The active system 100 has a detonation-operated magnetic field compressor 101. In the embodiment represented, the magnetic field compressor 101 has a stator coil 102 and an armature casing 103. In the embodiment represented, the armature casing 103 is surrounded by the stator coil 102 and is kept at a radial distance from it. According to an embodiment that is not represented, one or more stator coils may also only partially surround the armature casing. An explosive charge 104 is embedded in the armature casing 103. The magnetic field compressor 101, or the stator coil 102, is electrically connected to a power source 105. For the detonation of the explosive charge 104, a trigger system 106 is provided, the trigger system 106 being controllable by a pulse of current from the power source 105, depending on a signal supplied by the missile (not represented). A great amount of electrical energy is generated in the stator coil 102 by the detonation of the explosive charge 104. To be more precise, the detonation of the explosive charge 104 causes a rapid change in the magnetic field built up in the stator coil 102 by the power source 105. In the embodiment represented, the active system 100 has a directional antenna 107 for the directional radiation of electrical energy generated by the detonation of the explosive charge 104.

(13) In FIG. 2, a further more detailed embodiment of an electromagnetic active system 200 is represented. The active system 200 has a detonation-operated magnetic field compressor 201. The magnetic field compressor 201 has an armature casing 203, which is filled with an explosive charge 204 and is surrounded by a stator coil 202. The magnetic field compressor 201 is coupled to a power source 205, for example a capacitor bank, by which a magnetic field can be induced in the stator coil 202. The magnetic field compressor 201 is also connected to a trigger system 206. In response to a predetermined signal, the explosive charge 204 is initiated by way of the trigger system 206. The trigger system 206 may for example have a delay function. The initiation of the magnetic field in the stator coil 202 may for example likewise be controlled by way of the trigger system 206. The detonation of the explosive charge 204 brings about a change in the magnetic field built up in the stator coil 202, which suddenly generates a great amount of electrical energy. This energy is passed by way of a switching device 208, for example through corresponding power electronics, to a transmitter 209, for which purpose the stator coil 202 is electrically connected to the switching device 208 and the transmitter 209 is electrically coupled to the switching device. The transmitter 209 generates an electromagnetic radiation, which is radiated by the directional antenna 207 to a target.

(14) In FIG. 3, the effect 300 of an embodiment of the electromagnetic active system 301 on a target 302 is schematically shown. In the embodiment represented, the active system 301 is fitted in a missile 303. The active system 301 has a detonation-operated magnetic field compressor 304, which on detonation of an explosive charge emits an electromagnetic radiation 306 to the target 302 to be engaged by way of a directional antenna 305 in the missile 303. The detonation of the explosive charge takes place at a predetermined distance D of the missile 303 from the target 302.

(15) In the case of an embodiment of the active system that is not represented, at least two or more active systems as previously described may be provided, it being possible for the effects of the active systems to be instigated simultaneously for a cumulative effect or to be triggered shortly one after the other for a multiple effect. Individual components, such as for example the power source, the switching device, the trigger system and the directional antenna, may also be provided here jointly for a number of active systems. For example, two or more active systems may have a common power source, by way of which the magnetic field is induced in the stator coil. For example, the trigger system may be designed to trigger multiple explosive charges simultaneously or shortly one after the other. If for example there are a plurality of explosive charges, it is possible here for some explosive charges to be triggered at the same time and other explosive charges to be triggered subsequently one after the other.

(16) In the case of an embodiment of the active system that is not represented, there may be provided for example a deployment device which is designed to deliver the electromagnetic pulse generated by the detonation into the target D directly or over distances of up to 5 meters by conducting contact or spark discharge.

(17) A detonation-operated magnetic field compressor 304 with about 8 kg of high-energy explosive is suitable for example for applications with about 12 to 18 kg of active system mass for combating specific sensors. A detonation-operated magnetic field compressor 304 with about 50 kg of high-energy explosive in a cascade circuit is suitable for example for applications with up to about 120 kg of active system mass.

(18) The aim is for example to combat sophisticated targets with complex sensor systems, the electronics of which are destroyed, or at least jammed for a time, by the electromagnetic radiation 306 that is generated on detonation of the explosive charge. The effects of the active systems can be instigated here simultaneously for a cumulative effect or can be triggered shortly one after the other for a multiple effect.

(19) In FIG. 4, a plot of the effect 400 in the area affected by an electromagnetic active system is schematically represented. Here, the distance of the active system from the target to be engaged is represented on the x-axis. The extent of the area affected is schematically represented on the y-axis. In the case of a target 1 401, the initiation of the detonation of the explosive charge takes place at a small distance from the target. In the case of the target 2 402, the initiation of the detonation of the explosive charge takes place at a comparatively great distance.

(20) In the case of target 1 401 and target 2 402, different destruction limits have been assumed here (for example the larger ellipse of the area affected 2 404 with a probability of destruction or damage of 50% and the smaller ellipse of the area affected 1 403 with a probability of destruction or damage of 100%). Apart from for example physical destruction of the electronic components, electrical failure due to short circuits or purely jamming by interference as a result of the interfering radiation may be used as criteria for the effect.

(21) In FIG. 5, a flow diagram 500 of a method for making a generated electromagnetic effect scalable at the target is schematically shown.

(22) A method for making a generated electromagnetic effect scalable at the target comprises generating an electromagnetic effect by detonation of at least one explosive charge in an active system as described above 501. The method also comprises triggering one or more explosive charges at the same time or at a short time one after the other 502. The detonation is triggered in dependence on a predetermined distance of the active system from the target. The amount of the at least one explosive charge used is preselected in dependence on the target to be hit.

(23) Although the disclosure herein has been shown and described primarily with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those familiar with the technical field that numerous modifications can be made thereto with regard to configuration and details without departing from the essence and scope of the disclosure herein as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosure herein is thus determined by the appended claims, and the intention is therefore to encompass all modifications which come under the literal sense or the range of equivalence of the claims.

(24) While at least one exemplary embodiment of the present invention(s) is disclosed herein, it should be understood that modifications, substitutions and alternatives may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and can be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. This disclosure is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the exemplary embodiment(s). In addition, in this disclosure, the terms comprise or comprising do not exclude other elements or steps, the terms a, an or one do not exclude a plural number, and the term or means either or both. Furthermore, characteristics or steps which have been described may also be used in combination with other characteristics or steps and in any order unless the disclosure or context suggests otherwise. This disclosure hereby incorporates by reference the complete disclosure of any patent or application from which it claims benefit or priority.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(25) 100, 200, 301 active system 101, 201, 304 magnetic field compressor 102, 202 stator coil 103, 203 armature casing 104, 204 explosive charge 105, 205 power source 106, 206 trigger system 107, 207, 305 directional antenna 208 switching device 209 transmitter 300 arrangement 302 target 303 missile 306 electromagnetic radiation 400 plot of effect 401 target 1 402 target 2 403 area affected 1 404 area affected 2 500 flow diagram 501, 502 method steps D distance