Reliable and effective line charge system

Abstract

A line charge has a series of spaced-apart warheads coupled to strength members and a detonating cord freely extends through bores in the warheads. A rocket motor at one end of the strength members pulls the line charge across an obstacle laden area. An anchored tether or drogue chute at the other end arrests flight of the line charge and it drops across the area. The thermoplastic, polymeric, or metallic strength members provide strain management to withstand the severe deployment forces and to preclude damage to the detonating cord. Strain is absorbed by the elastic deformation of the strength members coupled to the warheads. Strain also is reduced through direct dissipation of energy by dynamic frictional losses created between strength members, coupling components, and anchoring devices during deployment when slippage occurs between the strength members and coupling components and anchoring devices. Strain reduction occurs when the strength members are made from viscoelastic polymeric materials that are elastically and plastically deformed during deployment. Such materials have characteristics of both elastic solids and viscous fluids and yield both recoverable (time-delayed) and non-recoverable displacements. Routing, but not attaching, the detonating cord through the warheads reduces loading on the detonating cord to negligible levels. Consequently, the lightweight line charge is reliably deployed for effective clearing operations.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.