GB2259971A

GB2259971A - Mine

Info

Publication number: GB2259971A
Application number: GB9219223A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Grosswendt
Original assignee: Rheinmetall GmbH
Current assignee: Rheinmetall Industrie AG
Priority date: 1991-09-25
Filing date: 1992-09-11
Publication date: 1993-03-31
Anticipated expiration: 2012-09-11
Also published as: FR2681681B1; DE4131875A1; FR2681681A1; GB2259971B; GB9219223D0; DE4131875C2

Abstract

A mine with a casing (1) which accommodates an ammunition unit (2) having an explosive charge (5). To provide self destruction of the mine or to prevent it from being lifted up the casing (1) contains a small hollow charge (9) which is directed towards the explosive charge (5) and wherein a detonator (10) is connected to a timing circuit and a tilt sensor switch. <IMAGE>

Description

?210C"i 1 - T ITLE Mine This invention relates to a mine, particularly a

detector detonator mine.

Mine fields should be capable of being cleared after a fixed time has elapsed from when they were laid so that the terrain will once again be freely accessible. Apart from this, however, it is also necessary to ensure that the mines cannot be safely counteracted, for example moved by an enemy. This is achieved by'a system in which an active part of the detonator situated within the mine, such as an anti-tank mine, is actuated after a preselected time in order to detonate the explosive charge of the mine, by an electronic time function element which has been programmed.before the firing or laying operation, leading to the disintegration of the mine, while if the mine is moved or activated during the activation time it is detonated by a motion switch.

If, for example, detector detonator ammunition is used in a detector detonator mine in order to protect mine fields against mine sweeping vehicles, the necessary self-disintegration of the mine requires manipulation of the apparatus for detonating and safeguarding the

2 - ammunition and this involves corresponding cost.

In the case of missiles systems it is known, for example DE 25 16 208, in which hollow charges are used for causing the missile to disintegrate during flight.

One object of this invention is to provide a mine in which the mine, containing an ammunition unit particularly of standard manufacture, enables self destruction to take place after a preselected time or detonation of the mine to occur if the mine is taken up during the activation period, this result being achieved without any alteration to the ammunition unit and at moderate cost. 4 According to this invention there is provided a mine with a casing accommodating an ammunition unit with an explosive charge which has a detonating and safety device which, by means of an adjusitable timing circuit, can be armed and caused to disintegrate-and can also be detonated during the live operational period by a motion switch, wherein the casing accommodates a hollow charge directed towards the explosive charge and provided with a detonator connected to the timing circuit and the motion switch.

This invention is explained below in more detail with reference to an embodiment as an example and as shown in the attached drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional diagram of a detector detonator mine, and Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a version of a circuit arrangement for the detector detonator mine shown in Figure 1.

The detector detonator mine shown comprises a thickwalled pot-shaped easing 1 accommodating a detector detonator ammunition unit 2 of standard manufacture and closed by a cover 3. The detector detonator ammunition 2 includes an explosive charge 5 (P-charge) delimited on the side nearer to the cover 3 by a lining 4 and having a detonator 6, a rotational sinking screen 7 and a firing charge 8 by which the detector detonator ammunition unit 2, when a target has been detected, is transported to a preselected height, for example 250 m.

The easing 1 accommodates a small hollow charge 9 with a detonator 10. The hollow charge 9 is directed towards the explosive charge 5.

The detonator 10 can be electrically activated by means of a circuit including an adjustable first time function element 11 which arms the mine when a preselected period has elapsed, for example after the firing operation. A second time function element 12, which is connected in parallel and likewise adjustable, 4 - determines the moment when the mine will undergo selfdestruction. A current carrying inclination sensor 13 is also provided which may be designed, for example, in accordance with the types described in DE 38 31 144 or in some other known manner, for example as a small tube partly filled with an electrolyte or as a gimbal-mounted magnet in a Hall Sensor, the movement of which causes a clamped oscillation which, on a change in the angle of inclination of the mine, changes a measurable value, such as resistance. The latter is monitored by a sensing circuit 14 which, in the event of a sufficient change, emits a signal for the activation of the4detonator 10, the signal passing through the first time function element 11, so that if the said element 11 has not yet acted to arm the mine, a change in the resistance of the inclination sensor 13 will have no effect. The electronic system associated with-the hollow charge 9 is also accommodated together with the inclination sensor 13 in the casing 1.

If the detector detonator ammunition 2 is fired from the casing 1 when a target is detected the armed hollow charge 9 is left behind in the casing 1, which has remained in position, and is finally detonated by the second time function element 12 and thus destroyed.

Alternatively, however, the system may be so desianed that the firing of the detector detonator ammunition 2 leads to a detonation of the hollow charge 9, for example by the use of the gas pressure, generated in the firing, for the operation of a switch, by which the said detonation of the hollow charge 9 is brought about, possibly after a time delay.

4 - 6

Claims

1. A mine with a easing accommodating an ammunition unit with an explosive charge which has a detonating and safety device which, by means of an adjustable timing circuit, can be armed and caused to disintegrate and can also be detonated during the live operational period by a motion switch, wherein the casing accommodates a hollow charge directed towards the explosive charge and provided with a detonator connected to the timing circuit and the motion switch.

2. A mine in accordance with Claim 1, wherein the motion switch is an inclination sensor.

3. A mine constructed and arranged to function as herein described with reference to the drawings.