Method and device for controlling the power type and power emission of a warhead

Abstract

An initiation device and method allowing power output to be switched between blast generation and splinter generation. The device and method include a cylindrical warhead with a cylindrical, central explosive charge and a tubular perforated mask surrounding the explosive charge, and also with at least two ignition devices, the first ignition device arranged in a region of one of the head sides of the cylindrical charge, and the second ignition device arranged in a region around a center of a longitudinal axis of the warhead, and having a splinter-generating casing surrounding the perforated mask.

Claims

1. A method for controlling power type and power emission of a cylindrical warhead comprising a head side that is arranged on a first end thereof along a longitudinal axis of the warhead, an outer casing that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis, a tubular perforated mask that comprises a porous reactive structure material and is contained within the casing, and an explosive charge contained, at least partially, within the perforated mask, wherein the warhead comprises a first detonation mode, a second detonation mode, and a third detonation mode, the method comprising: arranging a first ignition device in a region of the head side of the warhead; arranging a second ignition device in a region of a center of the warhead; and initiating the warhead by triggering the first detonation mode where only the first ignition device is triggered, triggering the second detonation mode where only the second ignition device is triggered, or triggering the third detonation mode where both of the first and second ignition devices are triggered either simultaneously or at different selectable points in time, wherein, when only the first ignition device is triggered according to the first detonation mode, a first detonation front is produced, which is deflected by a detonation wave deflector that guides the first detonation front in a glancing manner onto the perforated mask, which damps the first detonation front, such that ignition of the warhead occurs without any chemical reaction in the perforated mask, so that splinters of a first size range are formed from the casing by the first detonation front and are accelerated radially away from the warhead without a significant blast reaction occurring; wherein, when only the second ignition device is triggered according to the second detonation mode, a second detonation front is produced, propagating in a direction perpendicular to, and striking, the perforated mask, such that explosive particles pass through holes of the perforated mask, fragmenting the casing and the perforated mask to form splinters of a second size range, which are smaller than the splinters of the first size range, and effecting a complete after-reaction of explosive vapors due to oxygen, which is made available due to the fragmenting of the casing and the perforated mask; and wherein, when the first and second ignition devices are triggered at either simultaneously or at the selectable points in time according to the third detonation mode, a distribution of splinter generation or blast generation can be effected, depending on which of the selectable points in time are selected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the warhead comprises a plurality of head sides, and wherein the first ignition device is arranged at one of the plurality of head sides.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the center of the warhead is at a midpoint of a length of the warhead, as measured along the longitudinal axis of the warhead.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the center of the warhead is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the warhead.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the casing comprises a single continuous internal volumetric space, and wherein the first ignition device and the second ignition device are both disposed at or within the single continuous internal volumetric space.

6. A device for controlling power type and power emission of a warhead, the device comprising: a cylindrical warhead with a head side that is arranged on a first end thereof along a longitudinal axis of the warhead, an outer casing that is coaxial with the longitudinal axis, a tubular perforated mask contained within the casing, an explosive charge contained, at least partially, within the perforated mask, a first ignition device arranged at the head side of the warhead, and a second ignition device arranged in a region of a center of the warhead, wherein the perforated mask comprises a porous reactive structure material, wherein the warhead comprises a first detonation mode where only the first ignition device is triggered, a second detonation mode where only the second ignition device is triggered, and a third detonation mode where both the first and second ignition devices are triggered either simultaneously or at different selectable points in time, wherein, when only the first ignition device is triggered according to the first detonation mode, a first detonation front is produced, which is deflected by a detonation wave deflector that guides the first detonation front in a glancing manner onto the perforated mask, which is configured to provide additional damping for the first detonation front, so that ignition occurs without any chemical reaction in the perforated mask, so that splinters of a first size range are formed from the casing by the first detonation front and are accelerated radially away from the warhead without a significant blast reaction occurring; wherein, when only the second ignition device is triggered according to the second detonation mode, a second detonation front is produced, which propagates in a direction perpendicular to the perforated mask, such that explosive particles pass through holes of the perforated mask to fragment the casing and the perforated mask to form splinters of a second size range, which are smaller than the splinters of the first size range, such that a complete after-reaction of explosive vapors can be effected due to oxygen, which is available to the explosive charge by the casing and the perforated mask being fragmented; and wherein, when the first and second ignition devices are triggered either simultaneously or at the selectable points in time according to the third detonation mode, a distribution of splinter generation or blast generation can be effected, depending on which of the selectable points in time are selected.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the casing and perforated mask are made of the porous reactive structure material.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the casing and perforated mask are made of different reactive structure material.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the warhead comprises a plurality of head sides, and wherein the first ignition device is arranged at one of the plurality of head sides.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the center of the warhead is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the warhead.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the center of the warhead is at a midpoint of a length of the warhead, as measured along the longitudinal axis of the warhead.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the casing comprises a single continuous internal volumetric space, and wherein the first ignition device and the second ignition device are both disposed at or within the single continuous internal volumetric space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure herein are depicted in the drawing and are described in greater detail below. In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1: shows a cylindrical warhead with an integrated perforated mask,

(3) FIG. 2: shows different warhead initiation modes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(4) FIG. 1 shows a warhead GK with two different ignition points ZK1, ZK2 which can be initiated either individually but also jointly at selectable times. The one ignition device ZK1 is arranged on the head side K of the warhead GK in the region of a detonation wave deflector DW. The second ignition device ZK2 is mounted roughly centrally in the explosive charge SP on the longitudinal axis L of the warhead.

(5) The centrally arranged explosive charge SP is surrounded by a perforated mask LM on the outside. This bears directly against the casing H of the warhead GK.

(6) Depending on which ignition device is selected, a situation such as that depicted on the left or right in FIG. 2 results during the initiation of the ignition device according to the method described here. For this purpose, in respect of the known methods, those in extended form will be used.

(7) On the one hand, the materials of the casing H and the strengths thereof are selected in such a manner that a strong, quick fragmentation and therefore early opening to allow the vapors to escape is guaranteed. This may be achieved through special sintering of metal particles, for example. High-density materials such as molybdenum or tungsten alloys are available for this.

(8) On the other hand, this is supported by switchable methods of opening the casing. The functionality and switchability of the methods are depicted in FIG. 2. In the left partial image, the detonation fronts depicted using dotted lines strike the perforated mask LM perpendicularly at the front. This means that particle jets are produced very quickly, the particle jets exposing the casing to extreme loads and fragmenting it. On the right side of FIG. 2, a switch has been made to glancing mode. In this case, no more particle jets are produced and there is no early fragmentation of the casing. Consequently, the suppression of after-reactions also brings about the selective elimination of the blast effect.

(9) In the left partial image in FIG. 2, the locally limited blast mode is depicted which avoids collateral damage. In this case, the casing fragmentation mode is activated. The casing is quickly and effectively fragmented and subfragmented into small and minutely small splinters which do not fly far, as they are quickly braked by the air. The vapors can escape quickly and mix with the surrounding air. There is a complete after-reaction of the oxygen-underbalanced vapors. An extremely high blast effect is therefore produced locally, due to the ultra-finely fragmented, rapid metal particles of the casing in addition to the blast from the 100% vapor reactions. Effects with a wider coverage (a few 100 m) are not desirable and neither are they to be expected.

(10) The right partial image in FIG. 2 shows the known method of exclusive splinter formation. The method of fragmenting the casing is precluded in this case. This means that no particle jets are produced. Detonation takes place as usual, so that the splinters (whether natural or preformed splinters) are not fragmented or subfragmented, but they are accelerated as customary and fly over large distances (a few hundred meters) and are able to be fully and effectively deployed in the military target. There is a cessation of after-reactions and a very sharply reduced blast effect. This is in any case confined to a limited area and is not required here to support the power output.

(11) It is of course also possible by a roughly simultaneous initiation of both ignition devices ZK1 and ZK2 for a mixed form of the two aforementioned effects to be achieved.

(12) 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.