Munition

Abstract

Described herein is a munition to be exploded in the air at a position above an intended target. The munition includes an explosive, a matrix of fragmentation material, a body part with a convex shaped support element and a detonator. The layered structure of the munition is such that when detonated, a directional explosion code of fragmentation material is formed in a delimited distribution pattern. The munition can be arranged within a takeoff canister with a takeoff charge.

Claims

1. A munition configured for being exploded in air at a position above an intended target, the munition comprising the layered structure of: a body part to support and hold parts of the munition together before being detonated, said body part having a convex dome-like shaped support element facing an explosive; the explosive having an amount of explosive material and having a shape corresponding to the convex dome-like shaped support element of the body part; a matrix of fragmentation material located between the explosive and the body part, for causing a fragmentation effect to a target, said matrix of fragmentation material arranged in a convex dome-like shape corresponding to the shape of the explosive; a detonator for detonating the munition at a given time or position, said detonator positioned at an apex of the explosive and an aerial guiding means for stabilizing moving of the munition during delivery in the air; wherein the layered structure including the body part, the explosive, the matrix of fragmentation material, and the detonator is configured to, when detonated, causing a directional explosion cone of the fragmentation material to form a delimited distribution pattern of the fragmentation material over a target area, and wherein the munition is configured for being arranged in a takeoff canister with a take off charge device for launching the munition up to the air where at a predetermined height the munition is configured to being detonated and the munition exploding.

2. The munition according to claim 1, wherein the munition has a round, square, quadrangle, hexagonal, parallelogram or star shape in a plane direction, and the convex dome-like shape is in a direction perpendicular to the plane.

3. The munition according to claim 1, wherein the explosive is a layer with an even thickness or it is shaped to a lens shape having an uneven thickness.

4. The munition according to claim 2, wherein the shape and a thickness of the explosive material, together with parameters of the explosive material, is configured to, when detonated, an advancing detonation frontal in the explosive launching the fragmentation material to an intended direction.

5. The munition according to claim 1, wherein the detonator includes a range detecting device, and wherein a wanted detection range or altitude can be set.

6. The munition according to claim 5, wherein the range detecting device includes a laser or radar apparatus for determining a distance between the munition and a target or ground.

7. The munition according to claim 1, wherein the matrix of fragmentation material includes one or more of metallic, ceramic and plastic materials or.

8. The munition according to claim 1, wherein an average mass of one fragment unit of the fragmentation material is between 0.0001 kg and 0.200 kg.

9. The munition according to claim 1, wherein the body part forms a shell around the explosive and the matrix of the fragmentation material.

10. The munition according to claim 1, wherein a construction of the body part is such that multiple munitions are pliable together.

11. A takeoff canister comprising; a munition configured for being exploded in air at a position above an intended target and a takeoff charge device configured to launching the munition into the air, wherein the munition includes the layered structure of: a body part to support and hold parts of the munition together before being detonated, said body part having a convex dome-like shaped support element facing an explosive^ the explosive having an amount of explosive material and having a shape corresponding to the convex dome-like shaped support element of the body part; a matrix of fragmentation material located between the explosive and the body part, for causing a fragmentation effect to a target, said matrix of fragmentation material arranged in a convex dome-like shape corresponding to the shape of the explosive; a detonator for detonating the munition at a given time or position, said detonator positioned at an apex of the explosive; and an aerial guiding means for stabilizing moving of the munition during delivery in the air; wherein the layered structure including the body part, the explosive, the matrix of fragmentation material, and the detonator is configured for, when detonated, causing a directional explosion cone of the fragmentation material to form a delimited distribution pattern of the fragmentation material over a target area.

Description

(1) In the following the present invention is explained in more detail in reference to attached drawings wherein

(2) FIG. 1 presents a schematical cross section of the munition,

(3) FIG. 2 presents a schematical cross section of the take off canister application of the munition,

(4) FIG. 3a-3h presents some of the possible shapes of the munition from below,

(5) FIG. 4 presents some of the possible delivery means of the munition,

(6) FIG. 5 presents a possible explosion cone of the munition,

(7) FIG. 6 presents a take off canister application,

(8) FIG. 7 presents an other take off canister application,

(9) FIG. 8 presents an illustration of an explosion cone and a distribution pattern.

(10) In FIG. 1 it is presented a munition 1 to be exploded in air at a position above an intended target, the munition 1 comprising:

(11) an explosive 2 comprising an amount of explosive material,

(12) a matrix of fragmentation material 3 for causing fragmentation effect to the target,

(13) a body part 4 to support and hold the parts of the munition 1 together until detonated,

(14) a detonator 5 for detonating the munition 1 at the given time or position, the munition comprises a layered structure so that the body part 4 has a convex shaped support element 40 facing the explosive 2, the explosive is formed to a shape corresponding the convex shape of the body part 4 and the matrix of fragmentation material 3 is arranged in a convex shape corresponding the shape of the explosive 2, the detonator 5 is positioned at the apex 20 of the explosive, wherein the layered structure is designed to cause, when detonated, a directional explosion cone of the fragmentation material 3 in order to form a delimited distribution pattern of the fragmentation material 3 over the target area. The dome angle determines partly the explosion cone shape. Designing the exact shape of the convex can be done for example with mathematical simulation tools so that the shape and explosive properties are calculated and combined so that the explosion cone is as intended and the distribution of fragmentation material over the target area is even enough.

(15) The body part 3 forms a shell around the explosive and the matrix of the fragmentation material. The body part may be of fiber reinforced plastic, glass-fiber coated plastic, metallic material, etc. thus there are plenty of possibilities for the material. Also one aspect of the body part is that the other devices like the detonator, possible detonation control electronics, flight stabilizing devices i.e. aerial guiding means need to be attached together and the body part is serving also that purpose. However the one of main functions of the body part is to give the correct shape to the explosive and protect the munition for any deterioration during storage, handling and launching. Alternatively an auxiliary part can be used for the purpose of shape determination of the explosive. The body part can also be used in the manufacturing phase as a cast mold for explosive material to be cast to a void space inside or on the body part. One shape relating issue is that advantageously the munitions can be compactly packed next to each other so that there are no space wasted. Thus the construction of the body part is such that multiple munitions are pliable together.

(16) In FIG. 2 it is presented an embodiment comprising a munition similar to FIG. 1 but fitted for a take off canister application. The basic parts are the same as disclosed in connection with FIG. 1 but there are in addition a take off charge device or devices 6, which are configured for launching the munition 1 up to the air on command such as remote control command or triggered by selected excitation or impulse. Basic application is an electrically ignitable gunpowder or corresponding explosive charge which is capable of launch the munition to a wanted height. In FIG. 2 it is also shown an embodiment with an aerial guiding means such as a openable parachute for stabilize the landing phase before the detonation. In FIG. 2 there is shown only one possible alternative of the aerial guiding means as packed, different type of aerofoils can be also be used for the same purpose or it can be without the aerial guiding means, just to launch the munition up and detonate the explosive.

(17) In FIGS. 3a to 3g it is presented some of the various possible forms of the munition. The shape of the munition can be for example round (FIG. 3a), square (FIG. 3d), quadrangle (FIG. 3g), hexagonal (FIG. 3b), heptagon (FIG. 3c), star-shaped (FIG. 3e), oval (FIG. 3f), asymmetric free form (FIG. 3 h), parallelogram or corresponding shape in a plane direction

(18) In FIG. 4 it is presented schematically some of the various means for delivering the present munition 1. The present munition 1 can be a payload of canister munition of, for example, rockets and missiles, grenades or aerial bombs. Thus as an embodiment of delivering comprises plurality of said munition. In an artillery grenade there may be 10 to 15 pieces of 2 kg munition inside, but in a large aerial bomb there may be even a couple of hundred pieces of smaller munition inside or for example 20 pieces of 20 kg munitions.

(19) In FIG. 5 it is presented an embodiment of the operation with the present munition. In phase I the delivery means such as an artillery rocket opens up at a location above the intended target and diffuses the munition around. There are suitable technology readily available to perform this ejection or spreading around phase I. In the following phase II an aerial guiding means 7 such as parachute is activated or opens and stabilizes the flight of now separately to each other falling munitions. Especially the aerial guiding means corrects and stabilizes the attack of angle of the munition so that the munition is in correct orientation, fragmentation material towards the target. A range detecting device or corresponding trigger has been activated and it measures the distance to the target or ground by for example with a laser beam 550. On phase III, at the preset height, for example on command of a laser range detecting device or of a radar type, when the beam 550 length reaches the trigger limit and then the munition is detonated and it explodes.

(20) In FIGS. 6 and 7 it is presented a take off canister application function in principle. In FIG. 6 an electrically ignitable gunpowder or corresponding explosive charge launches (phase I) the munition to a wanted height (phase II) where it explodes. This can be caused for example by a delay detonator or corresponding. In FIG. 7 it is also shown an embodiment with an aerial guiding means such as a openable parachute for stabilize the landing phase before the detonation.

(21) In FIG. 8 it is presented an illustration of the exploding munition 1 causing the fragmentation material 3 to fly mostly inside an explosion cone 12 and then hitting the ground or other target area and creating a delimited distribution pattern 100 of the fragmentation material. It is optimal when single fragments are spread evenly on the intended area and creating the delimited distribution pattern 100. In FIG. 8 it is presented an embodiment wherein the explosion cone angle is approximately 90 degrees. Thus the possible pieces flying to other directions are lost from participating the actual task of the munition, to destroy the target at the specific area below the exploded munition 1.

(22) As evident to those skilled in the art, the invention and its embodiments are not limited to the above-described embodiment examples. Expressions representing the existence of characteristics, such as the munition comprises an explosive comprising an amount of explosive material, are non-restrictive such that the description of characteristics does not exclude or prerequisite the existence of such other characteristics which are not presented in the independent or dependent claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN THE FIGURES

(23) 1 munition 12 explosion cone 100 distribution pattern of fragmentation material 2 explosive 20 apex of the explosive 3 fragmentation material 4 body part 40 support element 5 detonator 55 range detecting device 550 beam of range detecting device 6 take off charge device 7 aerial guiding means dome angle