EP2194354B1 - Fragmentation warhead - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a warhead with an explosive charge with a splitter-forming shell and disposed within this inner shell, wherein the inner shell on its splinter-forming shell facing surface arranged a plurality distributed, with respect to a solder on the surface of the inner shell with respect to their cross-section asymmetric and with respect their position relative to the first initiator device similarly aligned and pointing in a preferred direction grooves, and wherein at least two diametrically provided on the longitudinal axis of the explosive charge initiating devices are provided in the field of explosive charge, which are individually and / or set with adjustable time interval.

They are from the DE 101 30 324 B4 Technologies known how one can dissect the envelope controlled into fragments of a certain size with an additional inner shell between an unnotched splinter-forming shell of a warhead and an explosive charge.

Furthermore, from the US 4,745,864 A , which forms a starting point for claim 1, a groove-grid structure of an active body has become known. The active body has a splinter-forming, unnotched shell, on the inside of a provided with various grooves inner shell rests. On its splinter-forming shell facing surface is arranged a plurality of distributed, with respect to a solder on the surface of the inner shell with respect to their cross-section asymmetric and with respect to the longitudinal axis of the active body two preferred directions exhibiting grooves arranged. Furthermore, the active body comprises two arranged on the longitudinal axis and diametrically opposite ignition devices, which are independently initiated, so that two different splitter types can be generated with the active body.

The inner shell, which may also be referred to as a slot mesh or fragmentation template, creates notches upon detonation of the explosive charge in the shell of the warhead. Depending on the design of this groove grid, these notches are symmetrical or asymmetrical. Accordingly, the shell decomposes by the tensile stresses caused by the hoop stress upon expansion of the sheath into one or two splitter sizes. In this way it has become possible to dissect a not pre-notched shell controlled in two types of chips.

In this technology, the groove grid determines the splitter size of the split chips in a controlled manner. In the document, however, no indication is given as to how a targeted switch to other different splitter sizes could be done with this method.

In the EP 1 912 037 A1 a warhead is described in which a further initiating device is arranged on the longitudinal axis. The targeted fragmentation is based here on superposition of detonation fronts of a plurality of pellets, which are stored in a cylindrical holder within the explosive charge. Further information will not be given.

The US 2003/164109 A1 relates to a warhead with multiple initiators, the timing of which affects the direction of the radially emitted splitter. However, a control of the splitter sizes is not provided.

The invention is therefore based on the object of extending the possibility of the target-adapted switchability of the size of the splitter beyond the known method by a further possibility.

The object is achieved in that in the area between the first and the second initiating device, a third initiating device is fixed or slidably disposed on the longitudinal axis.

With the known arrangement of two initiating devices and the asymmetrical grooves in the inner shell oriented in preferred directions with respect to the first and the second initiating device, two different splitter sizes can be generated by adjusting the ignition times of the two initiating devices.

By means of a third third initiating device which is either stationary or displaceably mounted on the longitudinal axis of the explosive charge, another possibility arises for producing a further splitter type or at least one selectable one Mixture of two splitter sizes, which, however, are usually smaller than the majority of natural splinters generated with the same configuration.

The setting options can be further extended by at least one initiating device being mounted longitudinally displaceable within the explosive charge. Thus, both the generation of different splitter sizes and the distribution of the different splitter sizes can be influenced again.

The aforementioned device is supplemented by the fact that at least one detonation shaft link is arranged in the explosive charge in the region of an initiating device. This ensures that there the detonation waves run approximately grazing along the inside of the inner shell, whereby the desired effects of the formation or non-formation of notches in the outer shell are again supported.

Embodiments of the invention are shown schematically simplified in the figures of the drawing and will be described in more detail below.

Fig. 1:

Prinzip der Umschaltbarkeit von Splittergrößen durch eine zweite Zündkette und ein asymmetrisches Nut-Gitter,

Fig. 2:

unterschiedliche Nut-Auslegungen (symmetrisch und asymmetrisch),

Fig. 3:

Zwischeneinlagen aus Dachfolien (mit Kunststoff bzw. Metall),

Fig. 4:

drei verschiedene Splittermoden, bei entsprechend ausgeformter Kerbe ("asymmetrisch", "symmetrisch" oder "unzureichend")

Fig. 5:

Parameter zur Steuerung der Splittergröße,

Fig. 6:

erzwungene Orientierung der Detonationsfront mit zwei Zündketten und Detonationswellenlenkern,

Fig. 7:

drei Zündketten mit entsprechend unterschiedlichen Orientierungen der Detonationsfronten und angepasstem Nut-Gitter.

Show it:

Fig. 1:

Principle of switchability of splitter sizes by a second firing chain and an asymmetrical groove grid,

Fig. 2:

different groove designs (symmetrical and asymmetrical),

3:

Intermediate inserts made of roof foils (with plastic or metal),

4:

three different splitter modes, with correspondingly shaped notch ("asymmetric", "symmetric" or "insufficient")

Fig. 5:

Parameters for controlling the splitter size,

Fig. 6:

forced orientation of the detonation front with two ignition chains and detonation waveguides,

Fig. 7:

three ignition chains with correspondingly different orientations of the detonation fronts and adapted groove grid.

The above-mentioned technology implies that the groove grid creates symmetrical or asymmetrical notches in the outer shell of the warhead. In the subsequent expansion of the shell, this decomposes at the notches, which act as predetermined breaking points, in the desired splitter sizes.

A switchability to two or more different splitter sizes can be realized in the manner described below.

The creation of notches through the groove grid of the inner shell IH depends on various design parameters. These are to be optimized so that the notch depth in the envelope MH of the warhead is sufficient for proper disassembly. Now, if a significant design parameter is changed in a direction in which the notch effect is greatly affected, the controlled decomposition is insufficient or not given.

The principle of this procedure is in FIG. 1 shown schematically simplified. A significant parameter is the orientation of the detonation front 1, 2, 3 after the initiation of one of the initiation sites, represented by the igniter chains ZK1, ZK2, relative to the orientation of the groove grating NG. The reference numerals 1, 2, 3 are snapshots of the movement of the detonation front in the temporal sequence designated. The groove grid NG is constructed asymmetrically. It should generate deep notches in the envelope MH as soon as the detonation front of "left to right" runs (ignition chain ZK1). The notches obtained in this way allow the shell MH to be broken down into controlled fragments.

A second firing chain ZK2, the first diametrically opposed, now reverses the direction and thus the orientation of the detonation front, thereby hindering the optimal notch effect. The shell MH disassembles in this case uncontrolled, ie in natural splinters that have a completely different mass distribution and thus splintering effect.

This is the starting point of the present invention. In the following, various embodiments will be described. The groove grid NG is specially designed for the needs of switchability.

FIG. 2 shows various examples of slot grid variants NG. Other variants derived therefrom in an advantageous manner are possible, but should not be discussed further here. That in the FIGS. 2a, 2d shown symmetrical groove system is used for the implementation of the invention in an asymmetric groove system according to the FIGS. 2b, 2c transferred. In this case, the effect of accelerated metal webs, the asymmetric inflow of detonation swaths or a spike formation analogously to shaped charges are utilized for the production of notches.

The latter can, for example, with so-called roof sheeting DF, as in FIG. 3 are sketched out. These in turn can be made of plastic films or metal foils such as copper in suitable forms. Accordingly, after the ignition of the explosive charge HE, the notches in the envelope MH are generated more by inflowing swaths or more by impacting metal particles.

There are no limits to the creativity of a designer to design the notch generating elements of the groove grid so that it can optimum notch effect is achieved. It is important that the notch effect depends on the orientation of the detonation front. Thus, asymmetrical interpretations are more appropriate for this purpose. Then runs the detonation front against this optimal orientation, the notch effect is severely limited and there are only insufficient notches, which are not able to dissect the shell controlled.

The notch effect in certain groove grids depends in a particular way on the orientation of the detonation front, as for example in the case of the hollow charge effect exploiting roof sheeting FIG. 3 the case is. With appropriate knowledge of the notching processes, it is thus possible to produce the notches in the metal shell deliberately symmetrical or asymmetrical by clever design of the groove grid. This then allows for a further degree of freedom in fragmentation.

After ignition of the explosive charge HE symmetrical notches produce two shear bands and asymmetrical notches only one in tensile load. This is in FIG. 4 indicated. In this way, asymmetric notches KA result in only one type of splitter A ( FIG. 4a ), with symmetrical notches KU with two shear bands, however, two types of splitter A and B ( FIG. 4b ). A third mode results in "false" orientation of the detonation front with insufficient notch effect KK. Here, the shell decomposes neither into A nor B splinters, but into natural splinters ( Figure 4c ).

In FIG. 5 design parameters are given to allow splitter size control. The notch depth t must be in a certain ratio to the shell thickness d in order to ensure sufficient fragmentation. The notch depth t must be at least 10 - 20% of the shell thickness d. The distances a of the notches must be sufficiently large in relation to the shell thickness. It should be approximately: d <a <5d.

For the relative orientation of the detonation front 1, 2, 3 to the groove grid or the inner shell IH known measures can be taken. Important and decisive is the presence of a second or more initiation ZK2, ZK3, so as to be able to switch the direction of the detonation waves aware. In addition to FIG. 1 , in which the principle has already been outlined, is in FIG. 6 exemplified another embodiment. The detonation front 1, 2, 3 is formed by detonation waveguide DWL so that it strikes the inner shell IH grazing. The groove grid NG is designed (asymmetrically) to favor one of these grazing directions (ignition of ZK1: from "left to right"), thus causing particularly deep notches in the sleeve MH. In the opposite direction (ignition of ZK2), however, the notch effect is only insufficient. This is indicated by corresponding arrows running diagonally through the groove.

In FIG. 7 Finally, the inventive design of the active charge is sketched. There are now three initiating points in the form of three fixed ignition chains or a movable and two stationary ignition chains ZK1, ZK2, ZK3 indicated with correspondingly different orientation of the detonation fronts 1, 2, 3 relative to the asymmetric groove grid NG. ZK1 generates asymmetric notches and thus only A-splitter, while ZK3 generates symmetrical notches and thus A and B splitter according to FIG. 4b , After all, ZK2 is so unfavorably positioned that only insufficient notches are created during the detonation of the explosive charge HE. In this mode natural splinters are generated. Thus, by means of individual activation of the initiation points, a target-adapted selection of the producible fragments is possible.

The above-mentioned time delays in the initiation of the individual ignition chains can additionally be used to control the splitter sizes.

As shown in the FIG. 6 For example, only the left ignition chain ZK1, or only the right ignition chain ZK2 can be ignited. Accordingly, either only controlled splinters or only natural (uncontrollably shaped) fragments result. But it can also be ignited both ignition chains. With simultaneous ignition, for example, each result in about 50% of the mentioned types of splitters. With a correspondingly relative time delay in the initiation of the first / second firing chain to the second / first firing chain, arbitrary percentage fractions of the respective types of splitter can be generated.

In FIG. 7 already three ignition chains are shown with correspondingly three different types of splitters. By any time-initiating delays within the three ignition chains can be generated according to any but exactly defined mixtures in the respective splitter locations. This allows an exceptionally high flexibility and thus adaptation to the target structure and hardness.

Another possibility for influencing would be the displaceability of one or more ignition chains along the longitudinal axis of the explosive charge indicated by dashed lines, which in turn makes it possible to adjust the mixing ratio of different splitter sizes.

The previously discussed switchability of fragmentation of an integral metal shell MH into controlled or natural chips can also be applied to preformed larger chips (construction splinters).

These can then be accelerated away in their size unchanged (no serration), or be broken down beforehand by the notch effect into smaller sub-splinters. One can thus switch between the generation of large and small splinters.

Claims (3)

1. Warhead comprising an explosive charge (HE) with a fragmenting casing (MH) and an inner casing (IH) arranged within said fragmenting casing, wherein two initiating devices (ZK1, ZK2) are provided in the region of the explosive charge (HE), lie diametrically opposite one another on the longitudinal axis of the explosive charge (HE) and can be triggered individually and/or with an adjustable time difference, and wherein the inner casing (IH) has on its surface facing the fragmenting casing (MH) a multiplicity of grooves (N), which are arranged in a distributed manner, are asymmetrical with regard to their cross section with respect to a perpendicular to the surface of the inner casing, are aligned identically with respect to their position with respect to the first initiating device (ZK1) and point in a preferential direction,
   characterized in that, in the region between the first and second initiating devices (ZK1, ZK2), a third initiating device (ZK3) is arranged such that it is fixed in place or displaceable on the longitudinal axis.
2. Warhead according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one initiating device (ZK1, ZK2, ZK3) is mounted longitudinally displaceably within the explosive charge (HE).
3. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one detonation wave guide (DWL) is arranged in the explosive charge (HE) in the region of the initiating devices (ZK1, ZK2).

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