US 5,311,820 A · Method and apparatus for providing an insensitive munition

Abstract

A heat sensitive case/nozzle interface is provided for an insensitive propellant-loaded munition such that the interface loses its structural integrity when high external heat is applied. The joint between a rocket case housing a rocket motor and nozzle forming the interface is received by an internal spring retainer positioned in a first groove in the case or nozzle in cooperation with a fusible material housed in an aligned second groove in the nozzle or case, respectively. A plurality of aligned openings extend into said first and second grooves. When the rocket is exposed to a high ambient temperature greater than melt temperature of the fusible material but lower than the auto-ignition temperature of the rocket, the fusible material melts and is forced through said holes by the spring retainer permitting the nozzle to separate from the case rendering the rocket motor safe if it auto-ignites.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A munition that loses integrity and separates into component parts when the ambient temperature of an interface mounting means of said munitions exceeds a predetermined temperature comprising:

a case having a groove therein;
said groove having a plurality of holes spaced radially around and in communication with said groove;
a nozzle having a groove therein, said grooves in said case and nozzle being in alignment and forming an interface between the case and nozzle when said case and nozzle are positioned together;
a spring retainer positioned in said grooves;
a fusible material adjacent said radial holes, and positioned in said case groove holding said spring retainer in said aligned grooves in a loaded position thereby securing said case and nozzle together and which upon exposure of said munition to an ambient temperature higher than the melting point of said fusible material, the fusible material melts to thereby flow through said radial holes in communication with said case causing separation of said nozzle from said case.

2 more elements

A munition that loses integrity and separates into component parts when the ambient temperature of an interface mounting means of said munition exceeds a predetermined temperature comprising:

a case having a circumferential case groove therein;
a nozzle mounted on said case and having a nozzle mounting groove therein, said mounting groove being in alignment with said circumferential case groove;
a spring retainer preloaded for positioning in said circumferential case groove;
a plurality of holes located circumferentially around said case in radial alignment and in communication with said circumferential case grove so as to accept removable, adjustable mounting means for positioning and holding said spring retainer in both of the aligned grooves in a loaded position thereby joining said case and said nozzle;
a low-melt temperature fusible material adjacent said holes and positioned in and solidified in said circumferential case groove, said solidified fusible material holding said spring retainer in its loaded position in both of said aligned grooves thereby securing said case and nozzle together and which on exposure of said munition to ambient temperature higher than the melting point of said fusible material, the fusible material melts to thereby flow through said radial holes in communication with said circumferential case groove causing separation of said nozzle from said case.

2 more elements

In a munition containing a propellant and having a munition case/nozzle interface the improvement comprising the case/nozzle interface adapted to lose structural integrity in the presence of a predetermined ambient temperature by the case/nozzle interface having a preloaded internal spring retainer positioned in and held in circumferential radially aligned grooves in the case and nozzle in a loaded position by a solidified low-melt temperature fusible composition, which low-melt temperature fusible composition has a melt temperature lower than the auto-ignition temperature of the propellant in the munition said fusible composition positioned in one of said grooves and said one of said grooves groove having a plurality of holes spaced radially around and in communication with said one of said groves to permit flow of said fusible composition through said holes upon melting, said fusible composition being adjacent said holes.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for providing an insensitive munition

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for providing an insensitive munition

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14