Prefragmented warheads with enhanced performance
AssigneeNorthrop Grumman Systems Corporation
InventorsGabriel J. Bonnstetter, Richard M. Truitt, Reid W. Wagnild
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An explosive device, such as a missile, artillery round, aerial bomb, mortar round, or mine, that utilizes a wall structure that upon detonation provides displacement of smaller fragments interstitially between larger fragments. The displacement of the smaller fragments into the interstitial spaces at detonation creates an expanding fragmentation curtain that momentarily contains expanding gases to increase the impulse pressure of the explosion, thereby increasing the kinetic energy imparted to the fragments. In some embodiments, the wall structure includes ordered layers of preformed metal fragments encased in binder material that suspends the fragments in a desired arrangement prior to detonation.
Claims20
An explosive device, comprising:
- an explosive charge;
- a first wall disposed adjacent said explosive charge and including a first set of preformed fragments;
- and
- a second wall disposed adjacent said first wall and including a second set of preformed fragments,
- wherein:
- the preformed fragments of said second set of preformed fragments are volumetrically larger than the preformed fragments of said first set of preformed fragments;
- and
- said first wall and said second wall are configured so that said first set of preformed fragments contact said second set of fragments upon detonation of said explosive charge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.