Projectile Launching Devices and Methods and Apparatus Using Same

A projectile launching device comprising:

• a reactive driver that, when detonated, will generate a detonation shock wave;
• a flyer having a rear surface;
• and
• a buffer member interposed between the reactive driver and the flyer, the buffer member having a front surface in direct contact with the rear surface of the flyer;
• wherein the buffer member is configured and arranged to:
• receive the detonation shock wave from the reactive driver;
• modify the detonation shock wave to generate a modified shock wave;
• and
• transmit the modified shock wave directly to the flyer to thereby propel the flyer away from the buffer member;
• and
• wherein the front surface of the buffer member is substantially coextensive with the rear surface of the flyer.

A projectile launching device comprising:

• a reactive driver that, when detonated, will generate a detonation shock wave;
• a flyer;
• and
• a buffer member interposed between the reactive driver and the flyer, wherein a rear section of the buffer member is axially tapered and circumferentially surrounded by the reactive driver;
• wherein the buffer member is configured and arranged to:
• receive the detonation shock wave from the reactive driver;
• modify the detonation shock wave to generate a modified shock wave;
• and
• transmit the modified shock wave to the flyer to thereby propel the flyer away from the buffer member.

A projectile launching device comprising:

• a reactive driver that, when detonated, will generate a detonation shock wave;
• a disc-shaped flyer;
• a compressible buffer member interposed between the reactive driver and the flyer;
• wherein the buffer member is configured and arranged to:
• receive the detonation shock wave from the reactive driver;
• modify the detonation shock wave to generate a modified shock wave;
• and
• transmit the modified shock wave to the flyer to thereby propel the flyer away from the buffer member;
• wherein the flyer has a mass of at least about 0.05 grams;
• and
• wherein the projectile launching device is configured to propel the flyer at a velocity of at least about 2.0 kilometers/second.

A method for selectively detonating an unexploded explodable device having a casing, the method comprising:

• providing a projectile launching device including:
• a reactive driver;
• and
• a flyer;
• placing the projectile launching device proximate the casing;
• and
• detonating the reactive driver such that the reactive driver generates a detonation shock wave that is transmitted to the flyer and propels the flyer to strike the casing;
• wherein an impact of the flyer striking the casing causes the detonable device to detonate via shock-to-detonation transition.

An explosive munition system comprising:

• a target explosive;
• a projectile launching device including:
• a reactive driver that, when detonated, will generate a detonation shock wave;
• and
• a flyer;
• wherein the projectile launching device can be actuated to detonate the reactive driver to propel the flyer to detonate the target explosive via shock-to-detonation transition.