Polar ejection angle control for fragmenting warheads
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorTimothy L. Spivak
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Abstract
The present invention controls the polar ejection angle of fragments in a fragmenting warhead. The warhead's detonators are initiated non-simultaneously to produce corresponding detonation waves in the warhead's explosive material. The detonation waves interact to control the polar ejection angle of fragments formed when the warhead's casing ruptures. Specified times of detonation for each of the detonators can be selected/adjusted after the warhead is deployed.
Claims20
A method of controlling the polar ejection angle of fragments in a fragmenting warhead, comprising the steps of:
- providing a casing filled with explosive material with at least two detonators spaced apart from one another and coupled to said explosive material;
- and
- detonating said at least two detonators non-simultaneously to produce corresponding detonation waves in said explosive material that interact to control a polar ejection angle of fragments formed when said casing ruptures.
A method of controlling the polar ejection angle of fragments in a fragmenting warhead, comprising the steps of:
- providing a casing filled with a metal-accelerating explosive material with a plurality of detonators therein wherein a minimum spacing between any two of said plurality of detonators is approximately 0.5 inches;
- and
- detonating said plurality of detonators non-simultaneously to produce corresponding detonation waves in said metal-accelerating explosive material that interact to control a polar ejection angle of fragments formed when said casing ruptures.
A fragmenting warhead, comprising:
- a casing;
- explosive material filling said casing;
- at least two detonators spaced apart from one another and coupled to said explosive material;
- and
- means for detonating said at least two detonators non-simultaneously at specified times, wherein said at least two detonators initiate corresponding detonation waves in said explosive material that interact to control a polar ejection angle of fragments formed when said casing ruptures.
A fragmenting warhead, comprising:
- a casing;
- a metal-accelerating explosive material filling said casing;
- a plurality of detonators spaced apart from one another in said metal-accelerating explosive material wherein a minimum spacing between any two of said plurality of detonators is approximately 0.5 inches;
- and
- means for detonating said plurality of detonators non-simultaneously at specified times, wherein said at least two detonators initiate corresponding detonation waves in said metal-accelerating explosive material that interact to control a polar ejection angle of fragments formed when said casing ruptures.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.