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 at least first and second ignition devices, the first ignition device arranged in a region of a head side and the second ignition device arranged in a region around a center of a longitudinal axis of the warhead, and which are triggered either individually or at a selectable interval of time, exhibiting a centrally arranged explosive charge with a tubular perforated mask surrounding the explosive charge, and comprising a splinter-forming casing surrounding the tubular perforated mask, the method comprising: a) following triggering of only the first ignition device and then ensuing deflection of a detonation front produced, which extends in a substantially glancing manner on the perforated mask made of a porous reactive structure material, additionally damping the detonation front by the perforated mask, as a result of which no chemical reaction takes place in the porous reactive structure material and as a result of which splinters of the casing are radially accelerated without a significant blast reaction taking place; b) following the triggering of only the second ignition device, the detonation front produced strikes the perforated mask made of a porous reactive structure material substantially perpendicularly, as a result of which explosive particles passing through holes of the perforated mask fragment the casing and then the perforated mask too, and as a result a complete after-reaction of explosive vapors then follow due to oxygen which is then available; and c) when the first and second ignition devices are triggered at selectable points in time, there is a distribution of splinter generation or blast generation that depends on the ignition timing.

2. A device for implementing the method as claimed in claim 1, the device comprising a cylindrical warhead with a cylindrical, central explosive charge and a tubular perforated mask surrounding the explosive charge, and also comprising at least two ignition devices, the first ignition device arranged in the region of the head side of the cylindrical charge, and the second ignition device arranged in the region around the center of the longitudinal axis of the warhead, and having a splinter-generating casing surrounding the perforated mask, wherein the warhead can be optionally initiated: a) by triggering of only the first ignition device, as a result of which the detonation front produced, following deflection by a detonation wave deflector, can be guided in a substantially glancing manner on the perforated mask made of a porous reactive structure material, wherein the perforated mask can be used as additional damping for the detonation front, as a result of which triggering can take place without any chemical reaction in the porous reactive structure material, wherein the splinters of the casing can be radially accelerated without a significant blast reaction taking place; b) by triggering of only the second ignition device, as a result of which the detonation front produced can be guided substantially perpendicularly to the perforated mask made of a porous reactive structure material, as a result of which, by the explosive particles passing through the holes of the perforated mask, the casing and then the perforated mask too can be fragmented, and as a result of this a complete after-reaction of the explosive vapors can be effected due to the oxygen which is then available; or c) by triggering of the first and second ignition devices at selectable points in time, as a result of which a distribution of splinter generation or blast generation that depends on the ignition timing can be effected.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the casing and perforated mask are made of porous reactive structure material.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the casing and perforated mask are made of a different reactive structure material.

5. A device for controlling power type and power emission of a cylindrical warhead, the device comprising: a cylindrical warhead with a cylindrical, central explosive charge and a tubular perforated mask surrounding the explosive charge, and also comprising at least two ignition devices, the first ignition device arranged in a region of one of a plurality of 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; wherein the warhead can be optionally initiated: a) by triggering of only the first ignition device, as a result of which the detonation front produced, following deflection by a detonation wave deflector, can be guided in a substantially glancing manner on the perforated mask made of a porous reactive structure material, wherein the perforated mask can be used as additional damping for the detonation front, as a result of which triggering can take place without any chemical reaction in the porous reactive structure material, wherein the splinters of the casing can be radially accelerated without a significant blast reaction taking place; b) by triggering of only the second ignition device, as a result of which the detonation front produced can be guided substantially perpendicularly to the perforated mask made of a porous reactive structure material, as a result of which, by the explosive particles passing through the holes of the perforated mask, the casing and then the perforated mask too can be fragmented, and as a result of this a complete after-reaction of the explosive vapors can be effected due to the oxygen which is then available; or c) by triggering of the first and second ignition devices at selectable points in time, as a result of which a distribution of splinter generation or blast generation that depends on the ignition timing can be effected.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Exemplary embodiments of the disclosure herein are depicted in the drawing and are described in greater detail below. In the drawing:

[0020] FIG. 1: shows a cylindrical warhead with an integrated perforated mask,

[0021] FIG. 2: shows different warhead initiation modes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] 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.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.