GB2130690A

GB2130690A - A hollow charge

Info

Publication number: GB2130690A
Application number: GB08330709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Klaus-Peter Geiss
Original assignee: Messerschmitt Bolkow Blohm AG
Current assignee: Airbus Defence and Space GmbH
Priority date: 1982-11-25
Filing date: 1983-11-17
Publication date: 1984-06-06
Also published as: FR2536848A1; DE3243568C1; GB2130690B; GB8330709D0

Abstract

A hollow charge comprises a charge casing 2 and, on one end face, a spike-forming lining or coating 4 which is already installed 'in situ' upon production of the charge casing 2. A foam material body 5 of adequate strength and suitable contour is associated with the lining or coating 4 and acts as a distance piece. As impact contacts for an electrical detonating device, the body 5 is provided, in its front region, with two concentric cap shaped parts 6a, 6b which are spaced apart from one another and, in its rear region, with two concentric sleeve shaped parts 10a, 10b which are spaced apart from one another. Electrical connecting lines 8a, 8b between the said shaped parts 6a, 6b, 10a, 10b and the detonating device are embedded in the foam material body 5 and/or are fixed to the surface thereof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A hollow charge This invention concerns a hollow charge of the kind comprising a charge casing, a spike-forming lining or coating at one end face of the charge, a distance piece arranged in front of the lining or coating to ensure satisfactory spike formation, a first impact contact for an electrical detonating device disposed in the front region of the distance piece remote from the lining or coating base, as well as a second impact contact for the electrical detonating device disposed in the rear region of the distance piece close to the lining or coating base, the impact contacts in each case consisting of two contact elements which are spaced apart from one another and have separate cable connections for electrical connecting cables leading to the detonating device. This type of hollow charge is known, for example, from German Offenlegungeschrift No. 26 30 273.

It is considered that this type of hollow charge could be improved by a reduction in weight, a reduction in the number of components as well as a reduction in the necessary production and assembly expenditure.

An object of the present invention is, therefore, to bring about such improvements in the case of a hollow charge of the kind in question.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the spike-forming lining or coating is installed permanently in situ upon production of the charge casing, and in that a foam material body of adequate strength and suitable contour serves as distance piece and has, as the impact contacts, in its front region, two cap shaped parts arranged concentrically one within the other with a spacing therebetween and, in its rear region, two shoulder-forming sleeve shaped parts arranged concentrically one within the other with a spacing therebetween, the electrical connecting cables between these shaped parts and the detonating device being embedded in the foam material body and/or fixed to the surface thereof.

The advantages obtained by the measures taken in accordance with the invention include the following: 1. Increased structural strength as a result of the spike-forming lining or coating being fastened in pressure-tight manner to the charge casing during production of same. In the case of a plastics casing this may, for example, be accomplished by fusion or injection.

2. The possibility, because of such lining or coating attachment, of the casting of an explosive charge in the charge casing without any sealing problem on the lining or coating side.

3. The foam distance piece contributes to a significant saving in weight and a reduced number of components and has impact contacts which are easy to produce as well as an integrated detonating circuit.

4. The assembly cost of such components is low, although they are assembied with high reliability and accuracy both as regards connecting and detaching the distance piece and the casing.

5. Centring of the foam material body in the spike-forming lining or coating has been found to be simple and extremely satisfactory.

6. It is possible, without any problems, to mount compensating weights on the foam material body when this proves necessary to obviate imbalance and/or stabilise the centre of gravity.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

The single figure is a schematic and fragmentary longitudinal section of a warhead which incorporates a preferred embodiment of the hollow charge of the invention. This warhead includes a casing 2 which contains, for example, cast explosive charge 3 of high explosive effect and has a spike-forming lining or coating 4 which acts axially forwardly. In the present instance the casing 2 is made, for example, of plastics material or sintered material with a progressively slightly tapering portion 2a and a circular-cylindrical portion 2b in the region around the lining or coating 4. The lining or coating 4 has already been fastened into the casing portion 2b during production of the casing 2, for example by virtue of fusion or injection.

To ensure satisfactory spike formation by the lining or coating 4, a distance piece 5 is arranged in front of the same. The distance piece 5 must be an inherently-stable body of aerodynamically favourable contour made from a lightweight effervesced, i.e. foam, material. In its front region remote from the lining or coating 4, the piece 5 has, as a first impact contact for an electrical detonating device, two cap shaped parts 6a, 6b, which are arranged concentrically one within the other with a spacing 6 therebetween and have separate cable connections 9a, 9b.

The inner cap shaped part 6a with the cable connection 7a is formed integrally with the foam material body 5. The purpose of the outer cap shaped part 6b is, upon target impact, to touch the inner cap shaped part 6a and to close the detonating circuit. It is located over the inner cap shaped part 6a and connected e.g. by adhesive, onto a portion 5a of the foam material body 5 which has a diameter in accordance with the spacing 6 between the parts 6a, 6b. In order to be able to connect 'in situ' the connecting cable 8b to the sleeve shaped part 4 Ob without any problems, the relevant cap shaped part 6b is at 7b either slotted or provided with an opening.

It has previously been stated that the inner cap shaped part 6a is formed integrally with the distance piece 5. This also applies to a part of the electrical connecting cable 8b between the outer cap shaped part 6b and the outer sleeve shaped part 1 Ob and to the electrical connecting cable 8a between the inner cap shaped part 6a and the inner sleeve shaped part 1 Oa as well as to the inner sleeve shaped part 1 Oa itself. In other words all of these are also integral with the distance piece 5.

It should be mentioned that the inner sleeve shaped part 1 Oa imparts an excellent stability to the foam material body 5 locating in the lining or coating 4. Moreover, the part 1 Oa has, at the periphery of a circular-cylindrical sleeve portion, openings 11 for reception of compensating weights 12 when these prove necessary. The said openings 11 are sealed by the inner jacket of the casing portion 2b when the foam material body 5 is inserted into the casing 2 so that compensating weights 12 previously impressed into the foam material 5 by way of said openings 11 are securely fixed.

The outer sleeve shaped part 1 Ob is mounted as a clamping sleeve on a body portion 5b which has a diameter in accordance with the spacing 10 between the part 106 and the inner sleeve shaped part 1 Oa. Together, the parts 1 Oa and 106 form a shoulder contact which is a functional part of the detonating circuit. This outer sleeve shaped part 1 Ob may be reliably fastened to the casing portion 2b by means of a bayonet catch 13.

Claims

1. A hollow charge comprising a charge casing, a spike-forming lining or coating at one end face of the charge, a distance piece arranged in front of the lining or coating to ensure satisfactory spike formation, a first impact contact for an electrical detonating device disposed in the front region of the distance piece remote from the lining or coating base, as well as a second impact contact for the electrical detonating device disposed in the rear region of the distance piece close to the lining or coating base, the impact contacts in each case consisting of two contact elements which are spaced apart from one another and have separate cable connections for electrical connecting cables leading to the detonating device, characterised in that the spike-forming lining or coating is installed permanently 'in situ' upon production of the charge casing, and in that a foam material body of adequate strength and suitable contour serves as distance piece and has, as the impact contacts, in its front region, two cap shaped parts arranged concentrically one within the other with a spacing therebetween and, in its rear region, two shoulderforming sleeve shaped parts arranged concentrically one within the other with a spacing therebetween, the electrical connecting cables between these shaped parts and the detonating device being embedded in the foam material body and/or fixed to the surface thereof.

2. A hollow charge as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the inner cap shaped part is formed integrally with the foam material body and the outer cap shaped part is located over the integral inner cap shaped part and connected onto a portion of the foam material body which has a diameter in accordance with the required spacing between the two cap shaped parts.

3. A hollow charge as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that the outer cap shaped part is connected to the relevant portion of the foam material body by adhesive.

4. A hollow charge as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 characterised in that the outer cap shaped part is either slotted or provided with an opening to facilitate connection of its electrical connecting cable to the detonating device or to the outer sleeve shaped part.

5. A hollow charge as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the inner sleeve shaped part is formed integrally with the foam material body and the outer sleeve shaped part is mounted on a portion of the foam material body which has a diameter in accordance with the required spacing between the two sleeve shaped parts.

6. A hollow charge as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the inner sleeve shaped part is provided with openings so as to allow compensating weights to be impressed into the foam material body when necessary.

7. A hollow charge as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the outer sleeve shaped part is formed as a clamping sleeve.

8. A hollow charge as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the foam material body is centred by means of the inner sleeve shaped part locating in the spike-forming lining or coating and is connected to the charge casing by way of the outer sleeve shaped part.

9. A hollow charge as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that the outer sleeve shaped part is connected to the charge casing by means of a bayonet catch.

10. A hollow charge substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.