GB2168134A

GB2168134A - A warhead

Info

Publication number: GB2168134A
Application number: GB08529106A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erich Bock; Rainer Himmert; Martin Seehofer
Original assignee: Diehl GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Diehl Verwaltungs Stiftung
Priority date: 1984-11-27
Filing date: 1985-11-26
Publication date: 1986-06-11
Also published as: IT1186196B; FR2573862B1; FR2573862A1; IT8522870A0; GB8529106D0; DE3443196A1; GB2168134B; IT8523846V0

Abstract

A warhead 1 for a rocket consists of few and simple parts. Provided are a one-piece case 2 with fuze hole portion 3, 4 for the fuze 26, a filler 21, which partially encloses the rocket fuze 26, but completely encloses the transmission charge/detonator 27 and the pyrotechnical charge or pyrotechnical charges 23 in the ogive of the warhead and partially in the cylindrical portion, an axial buffer 20, 40 for length tolerance compensation and as damping element for high transport jolts of the pyrotechnical charge 23 on a head plate 16, for the limitation of the useful-load space of the case, the head plate being linked to a footplate 6 by way of a bar 10, a single fastening screw 7 connecting the bar to the footplate. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A warhead This invention relates to a warhead for a rocket or missile.

DE-Gbm 72 13 205 shows a warhead for a rocket which consists of a case, a fuze, a pyrotechnical charge for ejecting a useful load, such as leaflets, a head (upper) and foot (lower) plate defining a stowage space and a bar (rod) which is connected to the footplate.

This warhead has a multiplicity of component parts and securing elements and, in this way, is seemingly very cost-intensive.

An object of the present invention is to propose a warhead which consists of relatively fewer parts.

According to the present invention there is provided a warhead for a rocket or missile, with a case, a fuze, a pyrotechnical charge (or charges) for the ejection of a useful load (payload) for example leaflets or dipoles, a headplate and footplate defining a stowage space and a bar connected to the footplate, in which warhead the pyrotechnical charge is in an inherently stable, light filler, the filler is supported on the one hand on or against a fuze hole portion of the case, on the other hand by way of an axial buffer by way of the head plate butting against the bar.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a warhead comprising one or more fill pieces (fill piece arrangement) shaped to receive an explosive charge, said fill piece or pieces and explosive charge being supported by way of at least one yieldable buffer so that the explosive is capable of moving axially relative to a casing of the warhead to compensate for a shock force on the warhead, said warhead, preferably, being provided with a stowage space for a useful load, for example leaflets or dipoles.

In accordance with Claim 2 the filler (fill piece) consists of a plastics material of stable shape.

In accordance with Claim 3, the spacing between a fuze screwed into the case (casing) and a pyrotechnical charge that is to be ignited is ensured by a spacer tube.

In accordance with Claim 4, a spring element-consisting of only two parts and therefore cost-favourable-is present.

In accordance with Claim 5, a one-piece spring element made of a resilient plastics material is provided.

An important aspect of the present invention is the filler which may make possible a simple assembly of the pyrotechnical charge or charges, in that the charge is inserted in a simple manner into the bore of the filler. No screw connections are necessary. Also the spacer tube may only be inserted and needs no securing elements.

The spring element serves as compensation for seemingly great length tolerances and as "crumple zone". In the event of accidents during transport, such as a fall from a great height either onto the front side or the tail side of the warhead, the explosive can yield axially, so that it and the (possibly existing) pyrotechnical charge does not deflagate.

The only screw connections may be those for the recepion of the fuze in the case, the connection of the bar to the footplate in accordance with Claim 6 and the connection of a cap nut to the footplate for coupling with the rocket motor.

The warhead may, in accordance with the present invention, be used for practice ammunition without a useful load but be for example provided with a smoke charge or for carrying operational loads, such as dipoles, scatter mines of known form, or other known lond.

An embodiment of a rocket warhead, in accordance with the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the rocket warhead; Figure 2 shows one form of a spring element of the rocket warhead, and Figure 3 shows an alternative form of spring element.

A warhead 1 consists of:- a one-piece case 2 made of steel having a reinforced threaded fuze hole portion 3,4; a threaded connection 5 between the case and a footplate (part 6); a bar (rod) 10 which is fastened by way of a screw 7 and threaded connection 8 to the footplate (which bar 10 is connected by way of a threaded connection 15 to a head plate (part 16); a cap nut 17 (fastened to the footplate by way of a threaded connection 16', for the coupling of a rocket motor/drive (not shown)); a spring element (axiai buffer), and a fill piece or filler 21 (which contains in a recess 22 an explosive charge or charges 23, and in a recess 24 receives a steel spacer tube 25, a part of a rocket fuze 26 and a transmission cap/detonator 27).

The fill piece (filler) 21 consists of polystyrene foam which tends to ensure a shockproof arrangement of the explosive 23 against lateral shocks, and from front acting shocks on the case 2. The spring element 20 secures the explosive 23 against tail-said jolts at the warhead in the direction of the arrow 30.

As shown in Fig. 2, the spring element 20 consists of two metal yokes (straps) 31, 32 which are bent in an approximately trapezeshaped manner and which are welded together. The free ends of the metal yokes are bent inwards at 33. Long portions 34 of the yokes 31, 32 are somewhat curved or shaped, so that only the portions 36 butt against the filler 21. In this way it is seemingly ensured that a safety spacing 38 exists between the explosive 23 and the metal yokes 31.

The action of the warhead 1 consists in the following: After expiry of the set time, the rocket fuze 26 initiates the transmitter/detonator 27 and thus the explosive 23. The case 2 thereby breaks apart.

As shown in Fig. 3, an alternative axial buffer 40 consists of a material which has a high restoring force, such as plastics material or rubber and has a head plate portion 41 which butts against the filler 21, in which respect the side wall 42 is designed in such a way that the deformation direction 44 thereof through appropriate design (inclination to the main axis of the rocket head 43 or arching) goes inwards. The axial buffer 40 is designed as a hollow body 50 which is closed on one side.

Use of the term headplate or footplate is to be construed broadly throughout this description and claims and is not intended to provide undue limitation on axial thickness.

Individual features as herein described, principles or functions appertaining thereto or selected combinations thereof may be individually patentably inventive, for example the axial buffers per se, and the meaning of any specific term as used herein may extend to any alternative (perhaps generic) term where sensible.

The content of Patent Specification No.

8529105 is hereby incorporated into the content of this patent specification as appendix A.

Claims

1. A warhead for a rocket or missile, with a case, a fuze, a pyrotechnical charge (orcharges) for the ejection of a useful load (payload) for example leaflets or dipoles, a headplate and footplate defining a stowage space and a bar connected to the footplate, in which warhead the pyrotechnical charge is in an inherently stable, light filler, the filler is supported on the one hand on or against a fuze hole portion of the case, on the other hand by way of an axial buffer by way of the head plate butting against the bar.

2. A warhead as claimed in Claim 1, in which the filler consists of polystyrene foam.

3. A warhead as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 in which the filler is provided with a spacer tube which supports the pyrotechnical charge against the fuze hole portion of the case.

4. A warhead as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the axial buffer is a spring element consisting of two metal yokes that are bent in an approximately trapezeshaped manner and connected to one another, longer portions thereof butting against the filler and shorter free portions thereof being supported against the head plate.

5. A warhead as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 in which the axial buffer consists of a material which has high resorting force, such as plastics material or rubber, and has a head plate portion butting against the filler, in which respect the side wall thereof is designed in such a way that the deformation direction thereof, through appropriate design inclination to the main axis of the rocket head or arching, goes inwards.

6. A warhead as claimed in Claim 5, in which the axial buffer is designed as a hollow body which is closed on one side.

7. A warhead comprising one or more fill pieces (fill piece arrangement) shaped to receive an explosive charge, said fill piece or pieces and explosive charge being supported by way of at least one axially yieldable buffer so that the explosive is capable of moving axially relative to a casing of the warhead to compensate for a shock force on the warhead, said warhead, preferably, being provided with a stowage space for a useful load, for example leaflets or dipoles.

8. A warhead as claimed in Claim 7 in which the fill piece arrangement is externally configured to an ogive shape and is, for example, of plastics.

9. A warhead as claimed in Claim 8 in which the fill piece arrangement is supported against a fuze hole portion of the warhead.

10. A warhead as claimed in Claim 9 in which a fuze extends through the fuze hole into said fill piece arrangement.

11. A warhead as claimed in Claim 9 in which the fuze extends into a metal tube support in the fill piece arrangement.

12. A warhead as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 10 in which the fill piece arrangement has an internal stepped diameter forming a shoulder against which the explosive rests.

13. A warhead as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 12 in which said axially yieldable buffer is a resilient spring element, which preferably holds the fill piece arrangement under pre-load conditions.

14. A warhead for a rocket or missile substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A warhead as claimed in Claim 7 in which said axially yieldable buffer is substantially as herein described with reference to Fig.

2 or Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A rocket or missile including a warhead as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

17. The combination of a warhead as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 15 in which the warhead is as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, and 12 of co-pending Patent Specification No. 85291 05-(Appendix A).

18. The combination of a rocket or missile as claimed in Claim 16 and as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 12 of co-pending Patent Specification No. 8529105-(Appendix A).